The most commonly stolen car parts are catalytic converters, due to valuable precious metals, and wheels/tires, because of high resale value and ease of removal; other top targets include license plates (for other crimes), airbags, and tailgates. While catalytic converters offer quick cash from scrap, wheels/tires are easily sold whole, and license plates are stolen to commit other offenses like fuel theft.
This guide will explain the five most frequently stolen car parts and, most importantly, how you can protect yourself and your car from thieves.
Wheels, especially custom or high-end alloy versions, are some of the most commonly stolen parts. They're valuable, easy to sell, and highly visible. With a jack and a lug wrench, a thief can quickly remove all four wheels from your car and place them on blocks.
Thieves want vehicle parts and valuable items, too.
They want whatever sells, from the mandated labeled parts to those that aren't. Some of the most popular items stolen from vehicles include air bags, GPS units, cell phones, iPads, laptops, and purses. Parts like doors, engines and transmissions are stripped and sold.
Here are the 10 most stolen vehicles of 2023 by make and model:
Thieves often avoid high-end vehicles like Mercedes-Benz and newer BMWs because they are more difficult to steal, easily tracked, and too risky to sell or strip. These cars often come with multi-layered security systems, making them less attractive targets.
Starting with the least stolen models according to consumer reports, the Tesla model three and the model Y have a relative claim frequency of one and two where 100 is the average. That means they are 50 to 100 times less likely to be stolen than the average car.
These robust security measures make Volvo vehicles less appealing to car thieves. While Tesla vehicles are known for their security, some BMW models also stand the test of time in terms of durability and reliability.
The items most frequently stolen during residential break-ins include:
This car is very low demand in the criminal market as parts are not widely as traded in chop shops and the brand does not have an established cross border resale route. So criminals don't prioritise it. And in first place the least hijacked car in South Africa is the Audi Q three.
Catalytic Converters
This part from the underside of your car is made of several different metals that thieves want because metal recyclers might pay anywhere from $20-$200 for these metals, according to Edmunds. Anti-Theft Tip: Consumer Reports has several ways to prevent catalytic converter theft.
The most commonly stolen items depend on where the theft happens—such as stores, homes, or cars—but they usually share two traits: they are valuable and easy to resell. These include electronics, jewelry, designer clothing, and perfumes.
The thieves first check the door handles and locks because sometimes people leave their cars unlocked. They also inspect the area around the wheel wells and underneath the doors. They even look for vulnerabilities or hide tools under the car.
The least stolen cars are ones with bright colours such as orange, green, yellow, and pink. This is because they're uncommon, easy to notice, and hard to sell. Car thieves tend to go for vehicles in common colours, such as white, grey, and black. This is because they have a higher demand, making them easy to sell.
The full top 10 list as reported by Équité:
Top 10 Most Victimized Vehicles for Wheel and Tire Thefts in 2022
Doors and windows are the most common entry points for burglars, so near these entry points is often the first place they look for any valuables. Burglars also know many homeowners hide their house key near the front door, making it easier for them to break in within minutes or even seconds.
About a third of robberies occur on the street or highway. Approximately 20 percent take place at commercial establishments like gas stations and convenience stores. Around 17 percent occur inside residences. By comparison, the majority of burglaries (over 60 percent) take place at residences.
Burglars also don't want to spend too long in your house, so they'll likely take off with whatever is handy and profitable. Jewellery, consumer electronics like phones, tablets and laptops as well as portable hardware tools and equipment all rank highly as stolen goods claimed under insurance[1].
What Are the Safest Cars?
Subaru cars are difficult to steal in comparison to other cars out there. One of the ways that you can't steal a Subaru car is by hotwiring. The technology itself of a Subaru vehicle is completely digital and so revolutionary that something as simple as jump-starting a Subaru is not even an option.
Most stolen makes and models
on accident risk. According to Kelley Blue Book, white is the most popular color choice for minivans, pickup trucks, sedans and luxury cars alike. White is also considered the safest color. In fact, in comparison to white vehicles, black cars are 12% more likely to be involved in an accident.
Criminals also have a preference when it comes to car colour, with black and grey being the top two most common colours of stolen vehicles. Ultimately, when it comes down to which vehicles are more likely to be stolen, convenience is an important factor.
Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving. Unlocked doors are easy targets. When parked, never leave your keys in the car. Ensure windows are fully closed to prevent a thief from trying to open the door from the inside.