Tracker names Mercedes-Benz C Class as the most stolen vehicle in 2017

The 2017 league table of Top Ten Most Stolen and Recovered Vehicles, from TRACKER (part of the Tantalum Corporation), places the Mercedes-Benz C Class in poll position for the first time, rising from 4^th place in 2016. The BMW X5 drops to second place as it leaves the top spot for only the second time since 2011.*

The 2016 Top Ten, like many previous years, was entirely dominated by prestige models from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Land Rover, but analysis of TRACKER’s 2017 data sees Volkswagen enter the league table for the first time since the report was first published in 2011, with its VW Golf in 9^th position. Mercedes-Benz E Class rises from 5^th to 4^th place, followed by the BMW 3 Series moving from 6^th to 5^th. The Land Rover Discovery reappears in the Top Ten, coming in 6^th – last appearing in 2014. Audi also makes a return with the Audi RS4 taking tenth place.

The Land Rover Defender, which last rolled off the production line 2 years ago, has also disappeared from TRACKER’s league table, having featured in the Top Ten for the first time in 2016, taking 9^th position. Also proving less desirable amongst thieves is the Range Rover Vogue, which is no longer featured in the league table.

TRACKER saw a 5% year-on-year increase in vehicle thefts and recoveries in 2017, with the total value of vehicles stolen recovered in 2017 exceeding 12.5 million. There has been a 30% increase in the number of stolen vehicles recovered by TRACKER since 2014.

The average value of stolen vehicles has remained relatively static from 2016 to 2017, increasing slightly from £16,436 in 2016 to £16,977.26 last year. The most valuable stolen vehicle TRACKER recovered in 2017 was a Rolls Royce Phantom worth around £120k, and the least valuable was a Vauxhall Signum Elite worth just £1,500. 30% of vehicles stolen in 2017 were worth less than £5,000, slightly up from 27% in 2016.

Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER (part of the Tantalum Corporation) says, “It’s fair to say that criminals continued to stay one step ahead of manufacturers in 2017. ‘Relay attack’ is one method car thieves increasingly adopted last year, which involves two criminals working together using an electronic signal relay to intercept a key fob signal from within the victim’s home. Cars are being stolen and driven off within seconds.

“80% of all vehicles stolen and recovered by TRACKER in 2017 were stolen without using the owner’s keys, quite a significant increase from the 66% stolen by this means in 2016. Of course, a TRACKER device won’t prevent your vehicle from being stolen, but if it is, it will significantly increase the chances of the vehicle being recovered quickly and returned by the police.

“We have a unique partnership with UK police forces and 2017 saw our technology assist officers to make 47 arrests. Together, TRACKER, car owners and the police are closing in on criminals and clamping down on vehicle theft.”

Unlike other stolen vehicle recovery devices, TRACKER’s unique technology can locate vehicles anywhere, even when they are hidden in a garage or shipping container. TRACKER has been reuniting car lovers with their vehicles for 25 years, and it’s this expertise which makes TRACKER the leader in stolen vehicle recovery.

TRACKER’S TOP TEN MOST STOLEN AND RECOVERED

TRACKER 2017 RECOVERY HIGHLIGHTS

First VW appearance in the Top Ten league table since its first publication in 2011

TRACKER stolen and recovered vehicles, were worth a total of more than £12.5million in 2017

TRACKER helped make 47 arrests in 2017

85 stolen vehicles not fitted with TRACKER devices were also recovered alongside TRACKER-recovered vehicles

The average value of a vehicle recovered by TRACKER in 2017 was £16,977.26

The busiest month for stolen vehicle recovery was August, with 87 vehicles recovered worth a total of nearly £1.4 million

*The TRACKER Top Ten Most Stolen and Recovered league table was first published in 2011.