2021 car theft: do you have a Mazda CX-5 or Nissan Qashqai? Keep an eye on him!

Compared to 2020, thefts of passenger cars decreased by 21 percent up to and including June of this year. The number of stolen delivery vans even fell by 41 percent. This is reported by the National Vehicle Crime Information Center (LIV).

Theft of Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Qashqai soared

Good news for almost everyone who got their car honestly. But as always, there are exceptions. For example, remarkably more Mazdas and Nissans were stolen in the past six months than in the first six months of 2020. At Mazda we see an increase of no less than 143 percent, at Nissan that is even 227 percent. This is mainly due to the popular SUV models of the two brands: the Mazda CX-5 and the Nissan Qashqai. Fortunately, in absolute numbers, it looks less alarming: 56 Qashqais were stolen and 68 CX-5 drivers lost their cars involuntarily.

The striking figures of the two Japanese models fit in with the general trend that more and more SUVs are being stolen. This is simply due to the increased number of cars in the SUV segment. We also see an increase in the number of stolen SUVs at Renault, Audi, Peugeot and Opel.

Most stolen car brands

For a long time, Mercedes and BMW were fixed values ​​in the top 5 of most stolen car brands. But the German premium brands have lost their positions to Renault and Peugeot. Volkswagen remains number 1 with 2.5 stolen cars per day, or 445 (-34%) in the first half of 2021. Toyota and Renault follow in second and third place with 229 (-20%) and 203 (-30%) respectively. ) stolen cars. Peugeot is a newcomer in the top 5 with 176 thefts (+8%). Audi completes the top 5 with 162 stolen cars (-30%)

Most stolen car models

Given the top position of Volkswagen in the brand list, it was inevitable. The Wolfsburgers are also highly ranked in the top 5 of most stolen models:

1. Volkswagen Polo (170)
2. Volkswagen Golf (164)
3. Fiat 500 (83
4. Mazda CX-5 (68)
5. BMW 3 Series (64)

High risk for Toyota and Lexus drivers

If you buy a Toyota or Lexus, you get operational security. Apparently thieves love that too. Because in the list of cars with the highest risk of being stolen, Toyota and Lexus are well represented according to the LIV:

1. Lexus RX 450h (theft risk 1 in 129)
2. Toyota CH-R (theft risk 1 in 417)
3. Mazda CX-5 (theft risk 1 on 518)
4. Toyota RV4 (theft risk 1 in 595)
5. Fiat 500 (theft risk 1 on 1274)

Low recovery rate

Just because the theft numbers are trending down doesn't mean the thieves guild is sleeping. LIV manager Rudi Welling: “We have never experienced such sharp declines before. It is plausible that Covid has an influence on car thefts, on the other hand, the increase in theft at Mazda and Nissan proves that not all car thieves are deterred by it."

Welling therefore continues to advocate the use of an approved alarm system. He also believes that a lot of attention should be paid to recovering stolen cars. Currently, the chance that a stolen car was recovered is small, on average 39 percent. That means that 61 out of 100 stolen cars never come back.