Tracker's latest data analysis reveals that Range Rovers and Land Rovers take six of the ten places in the 2020 list of Tracker’s most commonly stolen and recovered vehicles. The three top spots in the 2020 league table are all Range Rover models - the Sport, the Vogue and the Autobiography. The Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Defender also make the top ten.  These six models alone account for 37% of all stolen cars recovered by Tracker in 2020. The list for 2020 is as follows:

Tracker's Top 10 Most Stolen & Recovered Vehicles in 2020

1.  Range Rover Sport

2.  Range Rover Vogue

3.  Range Rover Autobiography

4.  BMW X5

5.  Land Rover Discovery / BMW 3 Series

6.  Mercedes-Benz C-Class

7.  Range Rover Evoque

8.  Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG

9.  BMW M3 / Mercedes-Benz S-Class

10.  Land Rover Defender / Mercedes-Benz E-Class / BMW 6 Series

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Keyless Theft Still On The Rise

Analysis of how criminals stole cars in 2020 reveals that keyless theft has risen to an all-time high, with 93% of all recovered vehicles having been stolen without the thief having possession of the keys. This has nudged up from 92% in 2019 but represents a 26% increase in the last 5 years. Thieves use sophisticated equipment to exploit keyless technology by hijacking the car key’s signal, typically from the security of the owner’s home, and remotely fooling the system into unlocking the doors and starting the engine. This is commonly known as a “relay attack”.

What Are The Causes Of Car Theft in 2020?

Unfortunately, new car production ground to a halt in response to COVID-19.¹ This caused significant delays to the supply chain and made Tracker’s top ten most stolen and recovered vehicles all the more desirable. Pent-up demand for both nearly new cars and manufacturer approved parts increases values and boosts trade for criminals stealing to fill the gap.

Wain concludes; “Keyless car theft has risen dramatically in recent years. It is quick and easy for professional criminals who have the tools and experience. Cars are commonly taken from outside of the owners’ house, often discreetly and within minutes, meaning the theft often goes unnoticed for some time. We encourage drivers to use traditional visual deterrents such as crook locks and wheel clamps to deter criminals and protect their car, however in the event of a theft, stolen vehicle tracking technology will significantly help police quickly close the net on thieves and return the vehicle to its rightful owner.”

How Can I Prevent Keyless Car Theft?

Relay attacks are on the rise every year, but there are ways to protect your vehicle and prevent such theft to occur. Measures include steering wheel locks, signal blockers and of course, getting a tracker system installed so your vehicle can be recovered if the worst were to happen. For more information on how to protect your keyless vehicle, check out our article 'Can you protect your vehicle from keyless car theft?'.

How Can Tracker Protect Against Keyless Theft?

While there are many things we can do to try and deter criminals, there is no guarantee that your vehicle won't be stolen, especially as car thieves are becoming more and more sophisticated in their methods every year. In the event of a stolen vehicle, having a tracker system in place means your vehicle has a 95% rate of recovery. 

Tracker is the only SVR provider offering vehicle tracking systems that are supported nationwide by UK police forces. Tracker SVR solutions work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there. The combination of VHF with GPS/GSM technology, unique to Tracker, makes its units resistant to GPS/GSM jamming, confirming Tracker as a superior security defence against determined thieves.