Range Rover the most stolen car last year

The Range Rover Sport was the most stolen and recovered vehicle in 2015 thanks to keyless entry and ignition systems, according to a new report.

The 4x4 worth from £62,000 to over £84,000 managed to knock the BMW X5 worth £44, 500 to over £65,000 off the number one spot which it had held for six years.

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It’s a risky time for Range Rover as three models of the car now appear in the ‘Top 10 Most Stolen and Recovered’ table with the Vogue in third and Autobiography in ninth.

The BMW 3 and 5 series also makes a reappearance after some years’ absence coming in at fifth and seventh place.

The Mercedes Benz C220 and C63 were fourth and sixth while the powerful Audi RS4 was eighth and the sleek Audi Q7 also makes its first appearance in the list in tenth.

The figures released by TRACKER also reveal a 12 per cent increase in the number of stolen vehicles recovered in 2015.

This equates to nearly £12.5 million worth of vehicles being returned to their owners.

Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER said: “Our latest figures reveal a shift in the most desirable makes and models that thieves are stealing to order, with 4x4s dominating our top ten.

“While it’s common for car thieves to target premium marques, we should not underestimate the massive appetite for Ford, Vauxhall and VW models.

“A Home Office Report published in January this year points to significant challenges with manufacturer security systems and suggests that fitting a tracking device could be the best solution.”

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TRACKER believes that the growth in keyless car entry and ignitions systems that are prone to hacking is making it easier for thieves to break into cars.

Andy said: “Criminals target these vehicles by bypassing their security systems using technology they’ve bought on the internet.

“By working hand in hand with the UK’s police forces, we were able to assist with 65 arrests in 2015, resulting in some of these criminals being taken off our streets.”

By using unique VHF technology, stolen vehicle recovery units can overcome potential recovery hurdles like concealment underground.

The use of GPS technology also means they can beat signal jamming, a common tactic used by criminals.

Andy said: “We remain committed to continuing to assist police forces across the UK and protecting car owners, by helping to recover many more stolen vehicles in 2016.”

The company said last year its technology saw the recovery of a £150,000 Jaguar E-Type, its most expensive car.

September was the busiest month with 69 recoveries in total worth £1,469,000 and the average value of cars recovered in 2015 was £19,355.

TRACKER’S TOP TEN MOST STOLEN AND RECOVERED

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Top ten cars by make and model most frequently stolen and recovered

2014

1. BMW X5

2. Mercedes C Class

3. Range Rover Sport

4. Mercedes Benz E Class

5. Land Rover Discovery

6. BMW M3

7. Range Rover Vogue

8. Audi RS4

9. Mercedes Benz ML

10. Mercedes Benz C63

2015

1. Range Rover Sport

2. BMW X5

3. Range Rover Vogue

4. Mercedes Benz C220

5. BMW 3 Series

6. Mercedes Benz C63

7. BMW 5 Series

8. Audi RS4

9. Range Rover Autobiography

10. Audi Q7

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