The Federal Motor Vehicle Crime Report 2022 has been published. The report provides information on how the theft rate has changed in 2022 compared to the previous year. The ADAC has published which vehicle models were particularly popular with thieves in 2022 based on the figures from the General Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV).
Thefts back to pre-pandemic levels
The German police registered significantly more cases of car theft nationwide in 2022 than in the previous year. According to the federal situation report “Motor Vehicle Crime”, a total of 40,315 car wanted listings were received in 2022 – around 30 percent more than in the previous year. Of these, 14,611 vehicles were permanently stolen. Here too there was an increase of 19.6 percent compared to the previous year. That would be around 40 vehicles per day. This corresponds to the level before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite an increase in registered hybrid and electric vehicles in Germany, cars with conventional combustion engines continued to be stolen, especially high-quality cars and SUV models. According to the General Association of Insurers (GDV), car thieves caused damage amounting to almost 248.9 million euros in 2022. In addition to stealing entire vehicles, the perpetrators also steal high-quality individual parts such as navigation systems.
Thefts in a country comparison
In the 2022 federal situation report on motor vehicle crime, some federal states stand out with a particularly large number of crimes. The federal state with the most reported vehicle thefts is Berlin. In 2022 alone, 3,833 vehicles were stolen here – 29.3 percent more than in the previous year. With 3,286 stolen vehicles, an increase of 20.9 percent compared to the previous year, North Rhine-Westphalia is also one of the federal states with particularly active thieves. 1,053 vehicles were stolen in Brandenburg, 1,011 in Lower Saxony and 971 in Hamburg – all an increase of around 20 percent compared to the previous year. The police suspect that the recurring mobility due to the abolition of the border closures decided in 2020 is responsible for a resurgence in thefts. The high pollution figures in the north-eastern countries, such as Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg, are due to the short journeys of stolen vehicles to the neighboring states to the east. The stolen vehicles in western countries are also often brought via nearby ports, both within Germany and in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, for onward transport outside the country.
Thieves particularly targeted these car brands and models
The data from the federal “motor vehicle crime” situation report provides information about which car brands and models were stolen most frequently in 2022. It should be noted that the data is only based on vehicles that have been reported stolen and have comprehensive insurance. Volkswagen is at the top with 2,155 units – an increase of around 17.5 percent compared to the previous year. Behind them are the manufacturers Audi with 1,614, Mercedes-Benz with 1,598 and BMW with 1,264 stolen vehicles. Other major car brands such as Ford, Renault and Toyota are also among the top 15 most stolen car brands. The theft rate increased for almost all brands in 2022 compared to the previous year. The vehicle manufacturer Jeep even saw an increase of 65.8 percent with 309 lost cars. Of the top 15, only Audi recorded a slight decline.
However, the vehicle models most frequently stolen in 2022 were luxury off-road vehicles. The ten most frequently stolen models included two Range Rover models as well as variants of the Lexus NX and the Toyota Land Cruiser. The most stolen model in 2022 was the fourth generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee with 112 stolen vehicles per 10,000 inhabitants and a loss per theft of 35,715 euros. In second place among car thieves’ favorites is the Kia Stinger, with 110 stolen vehicles per 10,000 inhabitants and a loss of 35,081 euros. But the two Range Rover models from Jaguar Land Rover and the Land Cruiser from Toyota were also extremely popular with thieves.
How to protect yourself from car thieves
But what is the best way to protect yourself from car thieves? First and foremost, when leaving the vehicle, it is important to remove the ignition keys and close all windows, doors, trunk and sunroof and lock the vehicle. Improved technical protection can be achieved, for example, through immobilizers or electronic safeguards such as alarm systems and tracking systems. These make car thieves’ work more difficult. You should also watch out for suspicious vehicles with foreign license plates that drive slowly down the street several times. But people who take photos of the vehicle should not be ignored either. This can already be a preparatory act for a later theft.
Editorial team finanzen.net
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