The major car brand most likely to be targeted by thieves with five models in UK top 10
A luxury car brand is the most targeted by crooks in the UK. Its models account for half of the top 10 most stolen vehicles, according to the DVLA's latest statistics.
Leapfrogging the previously favoured Range Rovers from Jaguar Land Rover is the Lexus. The driving agency's figures from 2024 documented over 61,000 stolen cars.
The Ford Focus, which is the UK's most popular second-hand vehicle, had the most thefts overall, vehicles made by Lexus were targeted far more proportionately.
In fact, owners of a Lexus ES 300 were much more likely to have their car nicked, with an incredible one in 30 of them being stolen by thieves.
It was joined in the DVLA top 10 by the RX 450, LC 500, UX 250, and NX 300 models, as reported by the Mirror.
In response to these alarming figures, Toyota, the parent company of Lexus, emphasised their significant investment in security measures.
They said: 'Toyota GB has invested millions of pounds in a variety of security solutions. Our anti-theft measures form part of a nationwide customer care offering.
'For example, at a cost of more than £10million to Lexus, selected customers were provided with a free Tracker vehicle location service.
'As a result, a 96 per cent recovery rate has been achieved. We have subsequently rolled out Tracker installation as an option for buyers of certain models.'
The latest figures may leave Lexus owners feeling uneasy, but they also shine a light on the strides Jaguar Land Rover has taken to secure their vehicles in recent times, marking them as some of the most secure cars in the nation.
Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, a company aiding individuals in protecting their vehicles from theft, acknowledged in a separate statement the advancements made by the renowned British manufacturer.
But he added that continuous efforts are necessary to stop stolen cars from being exported illegally from the UK.
He said: "Lexus is making considerable efforts to protect its customers' cars but JLR suffered a rise in thefts sooner than it and so has had more time to react and develop solutions.
"However, its cars are still being stolen. There is a thriving market overseas for Lexus, JLR and other premium vehicles and we recover many at docksides."
Last month, we told motorists of a tip that could help them avoid having their car nicked - and it's all about where you place your keys.
Thefts of keyless cars - vehicles that unlock automatically when the key is nearby - are on the rise in many areas, with roughly two-thirds of all stolen vehicles in England and Wales falling victim to this type of crime.
Crooks can mimic the fob's signal by using a relay device if they're close by, tricking the car into unlocking itself and allowing anyone to drive off with it. The signals used by criminals are typically short-range radio waves, making it more challenging for criminals to capture the signal if the key is kept at a distance from the car.
So if you keep your key away from doors or windows, especially those at the side of your home where the car is parked, then you give yourself the best chance of avoiding this criminal tactic.
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