What are the most stolen cars of 2018? Vehicle thefts represent a real scourge for Italians, in some areas more than in others the concern of motorists for the fate of their car is growing dramatically despite the fact that the number of stolen cars has decreased overall and that of recoveries.
LoJack, a US company specializing in the detection and recovery of stolen assets, which collaborates with the Ministry of the Interior, within the annual report "Stolen Vehicle Recovery 2018” compiled on more than 220.000 vehicles equipped with the radio frequency systems the company supplies a precise photograph of the Italian landscape.
Based on what can be seen, thieves really like Fiat cars, even if, it must be said, it is probable that this preference is dictated by the greater diffusion of these vehicles in our country which increases the thefts in absolute numbers and also makes it easier to "get rid" of the stolen parts. Not only that, because with the'huge increase in SUVs on Italian roads, the number of stolen goods has also risen. It should be emphasized that the data provided may also be influenced by any commercial agreements with car manufacturers and dealers. Simply speaking, some brands in the ranking may be in positions higher than their real weight and vice versa.
THE MOST STOLEN CARS OF 2018: HERE IS THE RANKING
The most stolen car of 2018 is the Fiat Panda, queen of sales but also of thefts, which accounts for 16% of the total of thefts. In second place, with 12%, we find another must all Italian, the fiat 500
From third to seventh position, The ranking of the most stolen cars of 2018 is dominated by SUVs hottest of the moment:
3) Range Rover Evoque (7%),
4) Jeep Renegade (3%),
5) Toyota Rav4 (2%),
6) Ford Kuga (2%).
Seventh place for the Lancia Ypsilon (2%), eighth for the Nissan Qashqai (1%). The Toyota C-HR (1%) and the Ford Fiesta (1%) complete the top ten vehicles that have suffered the most thefts.
At the brand level: FCA is the most stolen brand with 31% of total thefts. Land Rover (8%) and Ford (7%) follow in the second and third ports. Toyota in fourth position with 6%, BMW in fifth with 4%.
MOST STOLEN CARS OF 2018: SUVS ON THE RISE
As shown by the general ranking, the very fashionable SUVs, which are depopulating from the North to the South of the country in this period, are not only among the most stolen vehicles in 2018, but compared to the previous year, the number of thefts that involved this car category is increased by 62 percent.
CITIES AND REGIONS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CAR THEFTS
Big cities are also the least safe for our cars. It is no coincidence that on the podium relating to the number of thefts there are in order Naples (37%), Rome (21%) and Milan (7%).
They broaden the analysis space from cities to regions and there Campania the region that boasts the highest number of thefts, even reaching 45 percent of the total. Followed by Lazio (21%), Puglia (14%), Lombardy (9%) and Sicily (4%). These five regions alone account for 93% of the total number of criminal episodes.
THEFTS ARE DOWN, RECOVERIES INCREASE
Compared to the rankings and percentages provided by LoJack, however, there are two figures that can help to console, at least partially, Italian motorists. The first: over the years the number of car thefts in Italy is gradually decreasing. According to data from the State Police, in 2017 (latest data available) there were 146.117 stolen vehicles, a decrease of 6,25% compared to 2016, the year in which there was already a decrease of 5,28% on the year previous.
Speaking instead of recoveries, the LoJack data regards only vehicles equipped with their own anti-theft system (220 thousand), in 2018 the recoveries were 2.363 vehicles (for an estimated value of around 52 million euros), a number which in percentage terms translates in a +58% of stolen vehicles returned to their rightful owners.
