Statistics of car thefts by regions of Russia

Who keeps statistics on car theft by brand in Russia?

Statistics are maintained by traffic police inspectors, as well as other companies and agencies that work with analytical information. Motor vehicle inspectors' performance is based on general data. They include:

• Cars not found.
• Cars that were returned to their rightful owners.

Thus, we can say that statistics are not always as accurate as traffic police indicators. Insurance companies calculate the number of vehicles based on how many thefts occurred with valid insurance.

The car theft rating does not fully reflect a clear picture of car thefts in the country, since many cars remain unfound for various reasons.

Many agencies receive information directly from auto inspectors and insurance companies. They bring together information from all models and identify averages.

Accurate statistics from the Russian State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and the automobile inspection departments of each region can be taken as a basis.

Theft statistics by regions of Russia

The likelihood of theft is highest in large cities, especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg. According to statistics, the Ivanovo region is among the top three. But residents of Chechnya and the far northern regions have almost no fear. There theft is minimal.

It cannot be said that Moscow is the undisputed leader in the theft rate ranking. Yes, the capital has the most such crimes, but this is only due to the fact that there are a lot of cars in it. According to statistics, about 8,000 thefts occur here annually, which is approximately a quarter of a percent of the total vehicle fleet. This is only the third indicator in the country. About 5,000 stolen models were recovered thanks to police efforts. The statistics of atrocities are gradually decreasing due to the widespread use of CCTV cameras and other security systems.

The undisputed leader in theft statistics is St. Petersburg. The probability of one day not finding a car locally among residents of the “Northern Capital” is 0.38%. The overall level of theft as of 2016-2017. amounts to more than 6,000 cars per year.

In second place in the theft rate ranking is the Ivanovo region with a quarter of a percent of crimes. Perhaps the reason is the proximity to Moscow and the large number of transport models popular with criminals. Next, with slightly lower indicators in the ranking, are the Khabarovsk Territory and the Republic of Tyva.

The Moscow region took seventh place in the theft rankings. Perm, Sverdlovsk and Sakhalin also made it into the TOP 10 in terms of theft rates.

In many parts of the country, the likelihood of losing your car to theft is minimal. These are usually the most inaccessible regions where it is difficult for criminals to sell a stolen model. In addition to the Komi Republic and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the list of the most “safe” regions in terms of theft statistics includes the Chechen Republic and the Komi Republic. In Chechnya, the figure is 0.001% - this is an absolute record!

Experts note that after theft, many vehicles are sent to China, where there is a great demand for foreign cars.

The most stolen models in 2020?

Now it’s time to look at the demand for certain brands of cars among car thieves. The first place is taken by LADA.

In Russia, the number of such machines is growing due to the fact that they are affordable and easy to repair. Toyota is in second place, and Hyundai closes the top three.

The top 10 stolen brands can be designated as follows:

Foreign cars in Russia are stolen quite often. For example, the first places for 2020 are occupied by Rio and Solaris. Next come Focus and Camry. The popularity of these cars for theft is quite simple to explain - the cars sell well for spare parts, so they are quickly dismantled and receive good fees for each of the parts. It is important to provide additional protection if you do not want your car to disappear while you are at work, at home or on vacation.

The top 15 most stolen foreign cars can be represented as follows:

As for premium models, the most popular are LandRover, Infiniti and BMW X5.

You can steal them in literally a couple of minutes if the security system does not provide additional protection.

The top 10 premium models can be designated as follows:

Results:

At the end of 2020, the Russian car market grew by almost 12%. This, as a rule, is accompanied by the growth of the secondary car market and, as a consequence, an increase in the demand for theft. The peculiarity of this factor, as well as the availability of relay technologies, will most likely show an increase in the number of thefts in 2018. We recommend that you do not rely on standard security systems, but have your car protected by professionals.

A rating of the most undetectable cars in Russia has been compiled. The leader in unattractiveness for thieves is the domestic car Lada Vesta, followed by the Skoda Rapid, but the authors of the rating, experts from Za Rulem magazine, make a reservation: Lada Vesta has only recently entered the market. It is possible that in two or three years the hijackers will appreciate it too.

“We estimate not only how many cars were stolen in 2020, but also compare the number of stolen cars to the number of cars sold during the same period. That is, if you look at the pieces, then, for example, such popular cars as Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio are among the most stolen cars. One and a half thousand Hyundai Solaris were stolen in 2016 and Kia Rio - a little more than a thousand, but many of them were sold. If we evaluate exactly the percentage of how many cars sold are stolen in total, it turns out that the most undetected car is the Lada Vesta. 55 thousand cars were sold last year, but only four were stolen. That is, the likelihood that your Lada Vesta will be stolen is extremely low at the moment, and the likelihood that, for example, a Hyundai Solaris or Toyota RAV 4 will be stolen is much higher. “Fresh” cars, which are a year or two old, and the Lada Vesta has actually been on the market for a year and a half, are not very popular with car thieves, because we have gone through a bad period when we stole everything. Nowadays, a stolen fresh car is difficult to resell; such cars are easy to find because there are few offers on the market. When a car is already three or four years old and there are a large number of them on the market, it’s easy to get lost here, and, accordingly, the demand for spare parts grows. In addition, the longer a car is on the market, the higher the demand for its parts.”

It turns out that no one needs Lada Vesta components now either. Often it is for these reasons that cars are stolen, explains auto expert Roman Gulyaev:

“There are cars that are not stolen in principle because there are few of them. I haven’t heard anything about the theft of Fiat or any other “American” rare brands. “Japanese” and “Koreans” are being stolen from us. Hyundai and Kia are especially popular on the market, including the secondary market; they are stolen for resale in some Caucasian republics, as well as in order to disassemble these cars for spare parts. Skoda and Volkswagen are very popular cars, but at the same time they do not stand out in the crowd: there is no demand for their parts, so they are not stolen. It’s the same with Lada Vesta and Lada Largus. Lada has models that are more popular in the theft market, for example, the same Lada Priora, which is in great demand in the republics of the North Caucasus.”

In the ranking of the most unloved cars by car thieves were also the Volkswagen Polo, with only two thefts per thousand cars sold, and the UAZ Patriot - three. Lada Largus, Chevrolet Niva, Skoda Octavia, Lada Kalina, Nissan Qashqai and Lada Granta are also in poor demand among criminals.

When purchasing a new car, every owner is concerned about the safety of his iron friend. Many buyers study the statistics and check the theftability of the Lada Vesta. According to statistics, the most stolen cars in our country are Ladas.

There is a separate article in this information. Only 4 cars were stolen using it in 2020. This indicates a more reliable security system of the new model and the recent start of car sales. As we can see, these thefts were committed out of love for the thrill and the desire to simply ride a new model.

Now Vesta owners should not seriously fear losing their car. Vestas appeared on the secondary market quite recently and in small quantities, which means that there is no need to steal the car for disassembly or use as a donor. However, the statistics of thefts in 2020 indicate the increasing attention of car thieves to Vesta. The car is equipped with a fundamentally new protection against theft of the Lada Vesta and attackers require serious training and advanced equipment. Which not all criminals can afford, and technical training requires a certain level of knowledge.

The installed ERA-GLONASS system allows not only to transmit coordinates in case of an accident, but also to report the location of a stolen car. Is it possible to steal a Lada Vesta? The answer to this question is that a standard system with an installed immobilizer, as well as the ERA-GLONASS addition, cannot provide 100% protection against theft. One of the most common methods of stealing any car is the human factor.

Differences from previous years

If we take into account the statistics of thefts for 2020, then throughout the entire territory it amounted to 36,400 cars. That's down from 39,300 car thefts in 2014. If you convert the figure into a monetary equivalent, you can get 10 billion rubles.

The dynamics of demand for cars is very interesting. Indeed, in 2015, 8% fewer cases were recorded. The situation with thefts, at first glance, has improved, but if you take into account the brands of cars that are stolen, then a third comes from the domestic auto industry alone. The rest of the cars are foreign cars and executive class .

It is worth noting that this situation with thefts has led to an increase in the cost of spare parts for cars due to the rise in the dollar exchange rate.

What are the theft statistics for 2020?

As theft statistics tell us, new models in the Lada line are not popular with AvtoVAZ car thieves. A total of 19 Vests and 3 x-rays were stolen. The main reason for this phenomenon is considered to be the lack of demand for the Lada Vesta, as well as the Vesta SW Cross 2020 in the “donor” market, since sales started relatively recently. However, we note that due to the increase in demand for new Lada models in the secondary market, there may be an increase in cases of vehicle theft. According to the latest official information for 2020, 19 Vesta models were stolen, which is almost three times more than the data from the previous year.

Data by city

In the Moscow region, due to its impressive size, the largest number of vehicle thefts is observed. This is due to the fact that tens of thousands of new cars are registered here every year.

Considering the theft rates in 2020, we can provide the following data on the models:

• The most popular is the Hyundai Solaris. Over the past six months, 180 cars have been stolen.
• Kia Rio is literally hot on the heels of the leader. 145 cases of theft were recorded.
• Renault Duster – 131 thefts.
• Ford Focus 3 caught the fancy of 130 thieves.
• Mazda CX 5 was stolen in the amount of 117 cars.
• Toyota Camry was recorded in 115 thefts.
• The Kia Ceed has good built-in security, but nevertheless, this car was stolen 110 times.
• Renault Logan was loved by 100 thieves due to its simplicity and the ability to quickly sell parts.

As for St. Petersburg, the statistics here are no less comforting. During 2020, 7,200 car owners were left without their cars. Most often, stolen cars were sold in parts. Such a city is considered to be a regional hub, so it is very convenient to move around by car. It fits into the criminal business schemes, and according to statistics for 2020 there is the following data:

1. Ford – 600 units.
2. Hyundai - 320 pieces.
3. Kia – 320 units.
4. Renault - 240 pieces.

In 2020, about 1,800 passenger cars were stolen.

As statistics show, scammers prioritize the domestic auto industry, because about 40% of people prefer such cars due to their easy repairs and affordable prices. If we talk about foreign cars, then in 2020 the most stolen cars were recognized as:

• Toyota Camry (2000 cars).
• Mazda CX-7 (1000 units).
• Ford Focus (900 cars).

But based on the number of thefts last year, Renault, Nissan and even Porsche can be considered familiar and easy for thieves.

There are also a number of cars in Voronezh that are attractive to scammers. As data from insurance companies show, the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota Camry are at risk. Next come the Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris. Professional car thieves also cannot ignore premium cars such as Range Rover, Lexus, and Infiniti.

In the Krasnodar Territory, the ratio of car thefts by car brand can be presented as follows:

• Domestic cars – 82%.
• Cars of foreign brands – 16%.

Among passenger cars, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Opel, BMW, Honda, Audi, Ford, Fiat, Volvo are especially popular for theft.

Largus theft protection - how complicated should it be?

Before you continue exploring our site, I recommend that you download and read our Anti-Theft Guide , which we have made especially for you.
There you will find answers to 90% of questions related to theft protection. Largus protection against theft is a must. This car is not very popular in our country, and therefore does not attract car thieves. However, the possibility of theft cannot be completely ruled out. Such incidents do happen from time to time.

Therefore, it is important for the owner of such a vehicle to take measures in advance that will help keep his property safe. However, it is imperative to take into account not only the features of this car, but also the distinctive features of Largus owners.

They are usually not ready to install expensive security systems. Yes, and this is not necessary. For reliable protection of Largus, some security systems are sufficient. The main thing is to select and install them correctly.

Lada Largus

Largus is extremely rarely stolen for resale. Stealing a Largus for further resale is an economically unprofitable activity for hijackers, and, most likely, they simply will not undertake it. However, Largus can be hijacked for several other purposes. It is perfect for disassembling for parts.

The protection of such a car theft is extremely poor. For a criminal, a standard immobilizer does not present any difficulty. Its design has long been known to car thieves, so they easily bypass it when stealing it.

Often Largus is also equipped with a standard alarm system. Such a device is completely useless, since for some reason Largus is most often equipped with the simplest models that even a novice thief can handle.

Therefore, the owner of such a car simply needs to install additional devices that will help protect the car from the actions of criminals.

Mechanical interlocks would be a good addition to existing standard devices. Any good security system should include such a means of protection.

Most often, a steering shaft lock is installed. The device is considered almost the most reliable. Of course, a criminal can deal with it during theft. However, this will require some time, which the attacker usually has very limited time.

In addition, today mechanical means of protection are usually not very common. Therefore, the criminal may simply not have the necessary tool at hand.

A good addition to the above devices would be a hood lock. It can make the job of a hijacker much more difficult. It is believed that to fully protect a vehicle, such a device is absolutely necessary.

Largus anti-theft protection must be done with high quality. Otherwise, such a system simply will not be able to cope with the functions assigned to it. It is important for a car owner to preserve his property, but he should take care of this in advance and take a number of necessary measures.

The most stolen cars in Moscow and the region for 2018-2019

The theft, as a rule, is planned in advance, and even before the theft is committed, the criminal has prepared a place for selling someone else's car. For criminals, the most attractive cars are those that are in great demand and popularity among the population. This is due to the fact that such vehicles can be sold most profitably. Also at risk are cars that have the greatest number of flaws in the system that prevents hacking, since there are few people who can bypass a serious security system.

Based on 2020 data, a rating of the theft rate of private cars within Moscow and the Moscow region was compiled. This list takes into account many factors, ranging from the region to the specifics of a particular car.

What factors influence the attractiveness of a car to car thieves?

The ranking of the most stolen cars shows not only the weakness of security systems and the popularity of a particular model among car thieves, but also which car owners are least concerned about safety.

After all, using only a standard security system is practically impossible to protect a car from being hacked.

When choosing between an expensive car or a cheap but easily accessible car, the criminal will most likely choose the second option. After all, having discovered the presence of an anti-theft system, most will abandon the hacking attempt, switching their attention to a simpler target.

How to protect your car from theft

Simple ways to protect against theft:

• To protect against rotation of the lock, remove the rod and the lock cylinder.
• to protect against replacement of the ECU unit - ECU safe.
• To protect the lock cylinder from curling and turning the steering wheel, install a more reliable ignition switch.
• activate the standard immobilizer.

The minimum effective anti-theft model is a combination consisting of an immobilizer (tagged with a dialogue code, with engine blocking in the engine compartment) and a hood lock.