The total number of passenger vehicles stolen fell by 9,5%. Passenger cars aged 3 years are the most stolen (761 units), the most rising (51%) and the least recovered (30%). In particular, this concerns 3-year-old Toyota's CH-R (154 units), Toyota RAV 4 (75 units), Fiat 500 (54 units) and Mazda CX-5 (45 units).

Volkswagens are still the most stolen with 1192 units. The theft of electric-hybrid cars rose by 69% to 599 units. 1579 light commercial vehicles were stolen, an increase of 19% compared to 2019. Two-thirds of the total of 1604 motorcycles stolen are stolen in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.

Where are stolen vehicles?
Stolen vehicles between 0 and 3 years old often get a different identity and disappear in the Netherlands or go to other European countries and Africa. Young Toyotas are especially popular in African countries such as Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria. Stolen Land Rovers and Mazdas often turn up in Eastern European countries.

Reduce trade in stolen parts
Vehicles of 4 years and older are mainly stolen for parts. Due to considerable efforts by the Vehicle Crime Insurance Agency (VbV) and the police, more than 2018 stolen vehicles have been recovered in parts at various rogue companies since 3500. Theft-related parts are used for damage repair, as well as for ordinary technical repairs. The Digital Buyers Register, in which traders in used goods have to register their purchases since 1-1-2021, will make a positive contribution in the coming years to reducing the trade in stolen parts.

Keyless entry weak link
Many young vehicles are equipped with keyless entry systems that make it possible to open a vehicle without active key actuation. Criminals can easily receive, amplify and extend the signal from these systems, and thus remotely open and even start the vehicle. The manager and certification body of vehicle alarm systems, CCV and KIWA, have therefore tightened the admission requirements for new alarm systems for vehicles with keyless entry as of 1-1-2021. For older keyless entry systems, there are after-market options to improve security. A metal can to keep your key can also help.

International business
“Vehicle crime has been professionalizing for years. Stolen vehicles and parts are traded worldwide. We are doing well nationally, but the next step is to intensify international cooperation. Being able to share information with each other is one of the most important points for attention, ”says Hendrik Steller, manager of the National Vehicle Crime Information Center.

Also read: Number of stolen vehicles will decrease in the first half of 2020