MOTORING NEWS - Seven out of the top 10 most stolen cars in the UK are made by German manufacturers. Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz motors all make the list, with the latter's C Class targeted the most often.
According to new data by the Colewood Automotive agency, the BMW X5 was the second-most stolen and recovered car in the UK. The Munich-based premium manufacturer also has its desirable 3 Series and sporty M3 model feature in the top 10.
Meanwhile, the British-made Range Rover Autobiography is the most expensive car at £100 000 on the list. This is one of three Land Rovers in the top 10, joining the Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery.
TOP 10 MOST STOLEN CARS IN THE UK
- Mercedes-Benz C Class
- BMW X5
- Range Rover Sport
- Mercedes-Benz E Class
- BMW 3 Series
- Land Rover Discovery
- Range Rover Autobiography
- BMW M3
- Volkswagen Golf
- Audi RS4
The popular Volkswagen Golf was the cheapest car out of the top 10 most stolen, with its starting price at just under £19 000.
While a car's value and specifications are some of the major factors determining the price of its insurance, cover providers also look at a car's desirability and overall risk of theft.
Car thefts have been on the rise since 2015, when 349 555 vehicle offences were recorded across England and Wales in March that year, according to the ONS (Office for National Statistics).
The figure in March this year stood at 457 036, marking an increase of over 30% in car crime. Around 30 cars are reported stolen every day.
Keyless cars have been blamed for the rise in theft, with criminals using relay devices to enter new cars within seconds.
Entering a car through an unlocked door made up half of all vehicle thefts in 2016, which is 13% higher than a decade earlier.
Last September, West Midlands police released CCTV footage of a gang using a relay box to steal a Mercedes from a victim's drive in just 60 seconds. London is unsurprisingly the UK hotspot for car thefts, followed by Essex and the West Midlands.
Source: The Sun
