Relax, your Land Rover is safe. Britain has a new most-stolen vehicle

Telegraph

20 hours ago

Range Rover owners can relax, but Hilux owners need to be on high alert. That's the message from the Government's latest car theft statistics, which show that the undesirable title of Britain's most stolen new car has shifted from Land Rover's flagship to the humble Toyota pickup truck.
Analysis of official data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) conducted by insurance specialist QuestGates shows that Toyota Hilux thefts were up 549 per cent in 2024 compared with the previous year, with 584 going missing over the year.
While overall UK vehicle thefts were down 4.5 per cent in 2024, the figure for cars younger than three years old rose by 6.6 per cent. In contrast, Land Rover models saw substantial decreases. Range Rover Evoque thefts in particular were down 77 per cent last year, helping to shift the brand out of the top 10.
This reflects the success of recent security enhancements introduced by Land Rover after it was battered by bad publicity and customer complaints after a crime wave made some Range Rovers almost uninsurable, especially in cities.
The £17m cost of security upgrades
In an unprecedented move, Land Rover's parent company JLR invested £1m to fund proactive policing to tackle the organised crime groups targeting vehicles in the UK. It then spent £17m to update the security of its vehicles, including retrospectively upgrading the key systems on 300,000 cars to the latest technology, which uses scan-resistant wavebands and keyfobs which go into sleep mode if they are not moved.
And it has worked. As a result, there are now no Land Rover models in the top 22 most stolen models for 2024 – and monthly theft figures for the Land Rover and Jaguar brands are at their lowest levels for five years.
Philip Swift, technical director at QuestGates, said: 'JLR deserves huge credit for security upgrades which are apparently highly effective in deterring the professional criminals who target new cars. Fewer thefts mean fewer claims, lower costs and better outcomes for policyholders.'
Toyota's Top Gear test
But it seems as though the crooks have moved on to another rugged vehicle – the Toyota Hilux. The tough pickup was made famous for being seemingly indestructible in a 2003 series of Top Gear, yet while it might appear unbreakable, it seems the security systems are less sturdy and it is now highly sought after by thieves who are using electronic bypasses to take them without the key.
The stolen 4x4 vehicles have a ready market in foreign countries where its ruggedness is prized, while the buyers are not worried by its stolen status. Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at the insurance industry's Thatcham Research, said: 'Top destinations for stolen UK vehicles include the Democratic Republic of Congo, UAE, Cyprus, Jamaica and Georgia, driven by global shortages of car parts, high vehicle desirability and geopolitical disruption.'
The Hilux theft craze has led to a wave of warnings from police forces across the country. Last summer, Bedfordshire Police urged owners to take extra precautions after 11 were stolen overnight from addresses in Luton over a few days. North Yorkshire Police and Nottinghamshire officers issued similar warnings and stepped up crime prevention patrols in rural locations, speaking to owners of Hiluxes to warn them of the risks.
Like Land Rover, Toyota is fighting back. A spokesman said: 'Toyota GB has invested millions of pounds in a variety of solutions that help protect cars from theft. These include protective plates, immobilisers, blockers and trackers.
'We conducted a trial last year, at a cost of more than £10 million to Toyota, where selected customers were provided with a free tracking service. We are rolling out Tracker installation as an option for buyers of certain models, including Hilux, to help add a level of customer reassurance. Some of those customers were targeted by criminals and their cars were stolen. As a result of the installation of tracking devices, a 96 per cent recovery rate was achieved.
'Our anti-theft measures form part of a nationwide customer care offering. Owners can contact their local dealer to establish whether their model would benefit from additional security devices.'
Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover are the only car makers currently engaging with the newly formed National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, recognising their vehicles have vulnerabilities and giving significant funding to the police-led scheme to disrupt and target gangs involved in vehicle crime. But they are not the only brands with serious issues.
Worrying trends
While BMW has retained its second place in the 'most stolen' list of younger cars, owners will be worried to see the rise of Korean brand Kia, which moves from fifth to third place. Along with sister brand Hyundai, the South Korean company's cars have been plagued by thefts, with criminals apparently using a simple gadget bought on the internet to mimic the car's real key.
Hyundai says its vehicles placed in the market after February 2024 have all received the latest hardware and software technology and should be safe, while it is 'actively working to offer a range of options to enhance the security of customers' vehicles' for earlier models.
A police source told us that Ford's big-selling rival to the Hilux, called the Ranger, is also proving popular with thieves looking to export them – although their stronger security means they tend to be acquired through fraud rather than conventional methods.
Regionally, thefts of vehicles less than three years old increased significantly in 2024 in Bedfordshire, Essex and Warwickshire, while Greater Manchester recorded a notable 20 per cent reduction.
It seems that the electronic technology designed to keep our cars secure can offer crooks any easy way into them and the best way to prevent it is a switch to old-fashioned physical locks. A Bedfordshire Police spokesperson said: 'Where possible, park cars on driveways, in well-lit areas or where they are covered by CCTV. Extra security such as immobilisers or steering locks could also help deter thieves, along with lockable covers for diagnostic ports on newer models. And please keep keys in a secure location and as far from the vehicle as possible.'
Top tips on how to protect your car
Make sure your car is locked
...Even if you are in a place you think is safe, such as a rural location or your driveway. Cost: £0
Fit a steering wheel lock or other physical security device
Look for products with a Sold Secure approval, as they will take thieves longer to remove. Cost: from £70
Where to keep your fob
If your car has 'keyless' entry (you don't have to press buttons to unlock it), keep the fob as far away from the car as possible when it is parked to prevent high-tech relay theft using signal boosters. Also try to keep the keys in a Faraday bag or box to prevent them transmitting. Cost: £15
Tracking devices
Consider a tracking device to help locate your vehicle if it's stolen. Professionally fitted and insurance approved trackers cost about £200 plus a monthly subscription. Cheaper alternatives are available but are unlikely to bring a discount on premiums. Cost: from £100
Have the car marked to help identification
Old-fashioned window etching is effective, but modern 'DNA' swabbing applies an almost invisible paint to parts across the car. It can only be seen under UV light, while microscopic analysis will reveal a unique code. Cost: £59.50 (selectadna.co.uk)
When buying or selling
Be especially careful when buying or selling a car to make sure you are not a victim of fraud or distraction theft. Insist on seeing ID and make sure payments are cleared before letting a car out of your sight. Cost: Free