Motor vehicle theft

"Stolen car" redirects here. For other uses, see Stolen Car (disambiguation).

"Vehicle theft" redirects here. For the stealing of bicycles, see bicycle theft.

This article is about the crime. For the video game series that centers around vehicle theft, see Grand Theft Auto.

Motor vehicle theft or car theft (also known as a grand theft auto in the United States) is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle.

A car with one of its windows broken

In 2020, there were 810,400 vehicles reported stolen in the United States, up from 724,872 in 2019.^[1] Property losses due to motor vehicle theft in 2020 were estimated at $7.4 billion.^[where?] There were 505,100 car thefts in the European Union (EU) in 2019, a 43% decrease from 2008.^[2]

Methods

Shattered car window glass where a parked car was stolen

Some methods used by criminals to steal motor vehicles:

• Theft of an unattended vehicle without a key: the removal of a parked vehicle either by breaking and entry, followed by hotwiring or other tampering methods to start the vehicle, or else towing. In London, the police say that 50% of the annual 20,000 car thefts are now from high-tech OBD (Onboard Diagnostic Port) key-cloning kits (available online) and bypass immobilizer simulators.
• Taking without owner's consent (TWOC): the unauthorized use of a car short of theft. This term is used in the United Kingdom, as is the derivative "twocking".
• Opportunistic theft: either the removal of a vehicle that is unattended with the keys visible and sometimes the engine idling, or theft of a vehicle offered for sale during what the thief represents as a test drive. A "test drive" may also give a potential thief insight into where the vehicle keys are stored, so that the thief may return later to steal the vehicle.
• Carjacking: taking a vehicle by force, or threat of force, against its owner or operator. In most places, this is the most serious form of vehicle theft, because assault also occurs and the method of taking over the vehicle is essentially a robbery, a more serious form of theft. In some carjackings, the operators and passengers are forced from the vehicle while the thief is driving it. In other incidents, the operator and/or passenger(s) are held hostage in it. In still others, which are less common, the assailant forces the lawful operator to drive in accordance with the demands of the assailant, who rides as a passenger.^[3]
• Fraudulent theft: illegal acquisition of a vehicle from a seller through fraudulent transfer of funds that the seller will ultimately not receive (such as by identity theft or counterfeiting a cashier's check), or through the use of a loan obtained under false pretenses. Many vehicles stolen via fraud are soon resold, by the thieves. Using this approach, the thief can quietly evade detection and continue stealing vehicles in different jurisdictions. Car rental companies and car dealerships are also defrauded by car thieves into renting, selling, financing, or leasing them cars with fake identification, checks, and credit cards. This is a common practice near national borders, where tracking devices are less effective because the victims may lack jurisdiction in the countries into which the vehicles quickly are removed.
• Frosting: Occurring in winter, which involves an opportunist thief stealing a vehicle with its engine running whilst the owner de-ices it.
• "Hanoi burglary", where a vehicle is taken during a house burglary, often done with the explicit purpose of obtaining car keys.^[4] Named after the first police operation targeting the method.^[4]
• Joyriding: refers to driving or riding in a stolen vehicle, most commonly a car, with no particular goal other than the pleasure or thrill of doing so.
• Keyless system theft: The risk of cars with keyless entry being stolen is high. These are cars where the owner does not have to even press a button to unlock as long as the key is located at a certain distance from the vehicle. In theory, the key's signal should no longer reach the car when the driver moves away, making it impossible to unlock the car. Car thieves extend the signal from the owner's key with the help of simple signal amplifiers. and then all they have to do is open the door, hit the start button and drive away unnoticed. The car's alarm system is totally blind to this.^[5]

Auto-theft tools and paraphernalia

• A thin metal strap or rod that slips inside a door's cavity at the base of the window, to manipulate an internal locking mechanism or linkage. A famously known tool is called the "slim jim".
• A long rod with a hooked end that slips between door and frame, or through an opened window, that can reach and manipulate the door handle or lock from inside the vehicle cab. (A primary technique used professionally.)
• Broken pieces of ceramic, often from a spark plug insulator, used for throwing at car door windows so they shatter quietly.
• Specially cut or filed-down car keys, numerous tryout keys, jigglers and other lock picking tools.
• Slide hammer puller to break apart door locks, steering-wheel locks, and ignition switch locks by forced removal of the cylinder core.
• Multimeter or electrician's test lamp to locate a power source, for disabling alarms and jump starting vehicles.
• Spare wires and/or a screwdriver to connect a power source to the ignition and starter wires.
• Unusual looking electronics gear that may include; laptop or tablet, radio antennas, cables, battery packs, and other modified computer components that look homemade.
• Many keyless ignition/lock cars have weak^[6][7] cryptographic protection of their unlock radio signal or are susceptible to some form of record-and-playback or range extending attack. While proof-of-concept "thefts" of top-of-the-line luxury cars have been demonstrated by academic researchers using commercially available tools, such as RFID microreaders, examples of actual car theft using these methods are not very prevalent.^[8]
• A firearm, knife or other weapon used to break a window.
• OBD key cloning kit.

Vehicles most frequently stolen

A Ford Explorer with a smashed window

The makes and models of vehicles most frequently stolen vary by several factors, including region and ease of theft. In particular, the security systems in older vehicles may not be up to the same standard as current vehicles, and thieves also have longer to learn their weaknesses.^[9] Scrap metal and spare part prices may also influence thieves to prefer older vehicles.^[10]

In Bangkok, Thailand, the most frequently stolen vehicles are Toyota cars, Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max pickups.^[11][12]

In Malaysia, Proton models are the most frequently stolen vehicles, with the Proton Wira being the highest, followed by the Proton Waja and the Proton Perdana.^[13]

In Indonesia, locally-produced MPVs such as Toyota Avanza, Daihatsu Xenia and Suzuki Ertiga are the most commonly stolen vehicles.^[14]

In the United Kingdom, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the most stolen car in 2018, followed by the BMW X5. Police said the growing number of vehicles featuring keyless entry technology was a contributing factor to a rising number of stolen vehicles.

In the United States and Australia, a design flaw allowing USB cables to substitute for car keys led to sharp increases in the thefts of affected Kia and Hyundai vehicles in 2022.^[15] The Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger are listed as the most stolen vehicles in the United States (especially Hellcat powered).^{[16] [17] [18] [19] [20][21]}

In 2024, LAPD accounts over a %1,000 percent increase of Chevy Camaro thefts.^[22][23]

Prevention

See also: Bait car

There are various methods of prevention to reduce the likelihood of a vehicle getting stolen. These include physical barriers, which make the effort of stealing the vehicle more difficult. Some of these include:

• Devices used to lock a part of the vehicle necessary in its operation, such as the wheel, steering wheel, or brake pedal. A commonly used device of this kind is the steering-wheel lock (also known as a crook lock or club lock).
• Immobilisers allow the vehicle to start only if a key containing the correct chip is present in the ignition. These work by locking the steering wheel and disabling the ignition.
• Hidden kill switches cut electric current to the ignition coil, fuel pump, or other system to frustrate or slow down a thief.
• Deterrents tell the thief they are more likely to get caught if the vehicle is stolen. These include:
  • Car alarm systems are triggered by breaking and entry into the vehicle.
  • Microdot identification tags allow individual parts of a vehicle to be identified.
  • Signs on windows warning of other deterrents, sometimes as a bluff.
  • VIN etching may reduce the resale value of parts or increase risk of resale.

Modern Solutions

IGLA Anti-Theft Alarm and Immobilizer

The IGLA Anti-Theft system offers a passive defense against vehicle theft, using ultrasonic sensors to detect unauthorized movement. Once triggered, it activates alarms, flashes lights, and honks the horn, helping deter thieves. The system is easily controlled via a remote, allowing owners to arm or disarm it as needed, and is designed to integrate discreetly without affecting the vehicle’s warranty.

Tag Anti-Theft, Tracking, and Recovery

The Tag Anti-Theft system enhances vehicle security with wireless RFID devices installed throughout the car, enabling tracking across North America. In case of theft, the system allows for quick location and recovery, while the Tag logo etched on the windows acts as a visual deterrent, reducing theft attempts. Additionally, the tracking devices are non-jammable and hidden for added protection.^[24]

Recovery of stolen vehicles

Abandoned vehicle left in deep snow after a joyride in Edmonton, Alberta

Recovery rates for stolen vehicles vary, depending on the effort a jurisdiction's police department puts into recovery, and devices a vehicle has installed to assist in the process.

Police departments use various methods of recovering stolen vehicles, such as random checks of vehicles that come in front of a patrol unit, checks of all vehicles parked along a street or within a parking lot using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) or keeping a watchlist of all the vehicles reported stolen by their owners. Police departments also receive tips on the location of stolen vehicles through StolenCar.com^[25] or isitnicked.com^[26] in the United Kingdom.

In the UK, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) provides vehicle registration information to certain companies for consumer protection and anti-fraud purposes. This information can be supplemented by details from the police, finance, and insurance companies. Companies that utilize this data include Carfax^[27] in the US, AutoCheck,^[28] CarCheck,^[29] and Check Car Details^[30] in the UK, Gapless^[31] in Germany, and Cartell in Ireland. These companies provide online car check services for the public and motor trade, with VinCheckFree^[32] offering services worldwide.

Vehicle tracking systems, such as LoJack, automatic vehicle location, or OnStar, may enable the location of the vehicle to be tracked by local law enforcement or a private company. Other security devices such as microdot identification allow individual parts of a vehicle to also be identified and potentially returned.

Motor vehicle thefts by country

Statistics

Criminologist Frank E. Hagan wrote that, "Probably the most important factor in the rate of motor vehicle theft is the number of motor vehicles per capita in the country."^[33] Using data supplied by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,^[34] New Zealand had the highest auto-theft rate for any fairly large country in the world, at 954.0 per 100,000 residents in 2020. Some cities have higher rates, such as Richmond, California, which had an auto-theft rate of 1,518.3 in 2018.^[35] The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime notes "that when using the figures, any cross-national comparisons should be conducted with caution because of the differences that exist between the legal definitions of offenses in countries, or the different methods of offense counting and recording". Crime rates in certain neighborhoods or areas in each country may also be higher or lower than the nationwide rate. Furthermore, because the vehicle theft rates shown in the table below are "per 100,000 population"—not per 100,000 vehicles—countries with low vehicle ownership rates will appear to have lower theft rates even if the theft rate per vehicle is relatively high.

Country	Reported annual motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 population[34]	Year
Albania	4.2	2022
Algeria	13.5	2015
Andorra	0.0	2014
Antigua and Barbuda	3.2	2022
Argentina	86.0	2015
Armenia	1.7	2018
Australia	210.2	2022
Austria	34.9	2022
Azerbaijan	1.8	2020
Bahamas	100.0	2022
Bahrain	98.5	2008
Bangladesh	0.7	2006
Barbados	14.9	2022
Belarus	5.9	2014
Belgium	78.6	2020
Belize	6.7	2022
Bermuda	1220.9	2016
Bolivia	23.1	2020
Bosnia and Herzegovina	6.4	2022
Botswana	5.1	2020
Brazil	81.1	2020
Brunei Darussalam	45.3	2006
Bulgaria	22.2	2022
Cabo Verde	14.0	2018
Cameroon	6.9	2015
Canada	274.8	2022
Chile	497.8	2022
Colombia	100.5	2022
Costa Rica	87.2	2014
Croatia	42.3	2022
Cyprus	82.6	2016
Czech Republic	33.0	2022
Denmark	20.3	2022
Dominica	56.4	2022
Dominican Republic	22.9	2022
Ecuador	80.5	2014
Egypt	22.7	2011
El Salvador	12.8	2022
England and Wales	189.9	2021
Estonia	6.9	2022
Eswatini	28.8	2004
Finland	99.3	2022
France	252.4	2016
Georgia	1.1	2007
Germany	59.0	2022
Greece	177.1	2022
Grenada	0.0	2022
Guatemala	16.6	2016
Guinea	0.5	2008
Guinea-Bissau	0.3	2014
Guyana	0.1	2022
Honduras	2.9	2022
Hong Kong	10.2	2022
Hungary	32.3	2015
Iceland	5.9	2022
India	12.8	2013
Indonesia	10.4	2018
Iran	136.7	2004
Ireland	81.8	2022
Israel	382.1	2022
Italy	213.0	2022
Ivory Coast	7.9	2008
Jamaica	21.6	2015
Japan	11.0	2022
Jordan	3.7	2022
Kazakhstan	21.2	2015
Kenya	0.4	2022
Kosovo	6.9	2020
Kuwait	1.6	2009
Kyrgyzstan	6.5	2020
Latvia	27.4	2022
Lebanon	160.3	2014
Lesotho	21.8	2009
Liechtenstein	35.6	2022
Lithuania	14.7	2022
Luxembourg	370.6	2022
Macau	8.2	2022
Madagascar	0.1	2015
Malaysia	310.4	2006
Maldives	222.1	2013
Malta	58.1	2022
Mauritius	39.2	2011
Mexico	71.1	2022
Moldova	12.2	2020
Monaco	324.9	2006
Mongolia	7.0	2020
Montenegro	5.3	2022
Morocco	5.9	2022
Myanmar	1.9	2022
Nepal	0.1	2006
Netherlands	152.7	2022
New Zealand	954.0	2020
Nicaragua	6.6	2010
Nigeria	1.2	2013
North Macedonia	25.7	2014
Northern Ireland	138.0	2022
Norway	73.9	2022
Oman	2.5	2022
Pakistan	45.2	2022
Palestine	5.0	2022
Panama	20.5	2022
Paraguay	64.8	2015
Peru	87.3	2022
Philippines	4.5	2018
Poland	22.9	2022
Portugal	78.8	2022
Puerto Rico	75.3	2022
Qatar	12.9	2006
Romania	26.6	2022
Russia	22.0	2020
Saint Kitts and Nevis	39.9	2022
Saint Lucia	169.6	2022
Scotland	94.3	2022
Senegal	0.0	2016
Serbia	8.0	2022
Singapore	1.7	2022
Slovakia	13.8	2022
Slovenia	14.2	2022
South Korea	4.7	2022
Spain	50.6	2022
Sri Lanka	2.7	2018
St. Vincent and Grenadines	17.3	2022
Suriname	4.2	2022
Sweden	160.9	2022
Switzerland	216.9	2022
Syria	2.8	2018
São Tomé and Príncipe	0.0	2011
Tajikistan	0.6	2011
Tanzania	11.0	2015
Thailand	2.0	2022
Trinidad and Tobago	36.1	2020
Turkey	38.7	2020
Turkmenistan	0.0	2006
Uganda	3.8	2016
Ukraine	10.2	2020
United Arab Emirates	5.3	2022
United States of America	291.3	2022
Uruguay	430.7	2022
Vatican City	0.0	2022
Yemen	4.2	2009
Zimbabwe	3.5	2008

Europe

According to Europol, in 2023, motor vehicle crime networks were the most active in Germany, Poland, Portugal and Serbia, with Serbia being the country where most stolen vehicles are stored and cloned before being shipped and sold.^[36]

United States

The FBI reported that the cities where most motor vehicles thefts took place in 2019 were Los Angeles, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Detroit.^[37]

See also

• Containerization § Hazards
• Gasoline theft
• 2020–2022 catalytic converter theft ring

References

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2. "Crime statistics". Retrieved 16 February 2022.
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11. รู้ยัง? ...5 อันดับรถยนต์ และ 10 สถานที่ ที่ถูกขโมยมากที่สุดในกรุงเทพฯ และโอกาสได้คืน !! (in Thai). Matichon Online. 8 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
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21. "Car Thieves Love Hellcats, Hyundais, Kias - and Ignore Teslas". 23 September 2022.
22. "LAPD warns Camaro owners with thefts up more than 1,000%". 28 February 2024.
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External links