The most stolen cars in Moscow and the region in 2022

A Russian-made car is traditionally listed as the most stolen vehicle in statistics. However, new models from AvtoVAZ are not popular among car thieves. The theft rate of the Lada Vesta is low, so owners should not worry yet, but every effort must be made to avoid being a victim of theft.

On a note!

There is an assumption that the bulk of crime stops and trembles in front of the ERA-GLONASS system, which can determine the location of the desired car in a matter of minutes. However, thieves with high-quality technical equipment managed to steal 4 Lada Vesta cars in 2016.

Signs of attention

There are several negative trends. Incomes of the population are falling, and every year more and more money is being extracted from motorists through fees, fines, and taxes. Against this background, the demand for spare parts of dubious origin cannot but grow, since a relatively small part of Russians travel under the protection of comprehensive insurance. By the way, an insurance policy also indirectly contributes to the growth of car thefts: people, relying on insurance payments, neglect additional protection - and criminals have a huge choice of easy prey, equipped with primitive anti-theft devices, standard ones or cheap ones from a dealer-installed factory.

On the other side of the scale are factors that contribute to reducing the number of crimes. Sales of new cars in Russia have declined radically in recent years - from almost 3 million units in the record year of 2012 to 1.4 million in the anti-record year of 2016. That is, there are fewer new cars, which account for a significant portion of thefts, on the streets.

Plus, the share of credit transactions is growing. And since there is a relationship with the bank, then there is comprehensive insurance, which practically eliminates the motorist’s interest in used spare parts. Although we should not forget that many people choose a policy with a deductible, which means eliminating the consequences of minor accidents at their own expense. These car enthusiasts will look for spare parts from the “cheaper” category, including at “showdown” sites, where stolen cars are often gutted and sold for parts.

Security elements of the system for different methods of hacking a car

Protection of the Garant blocking device is provided by:

• secret mechanism (cylinder) of Finnish production Abloy Exec with a double-sided key;
• a trap disc made of especially strong steel that covers the larva;
• ring grooves with a special groove will protect the mechanism from being hacked with master keys;
• the “secret” mechanism cannot be drilled out due to a special design such as a “rotating glass” with a washer, which will rotate along with the drill, making it useless.

In combination with high-strength metal, from which all parts are made, the Garant lock on Vesta confidently resists both forceful and intellectual methods of criminal encroachment.

We do not give guarantees

The likelihood of theft can be reduced as much as possible, but it is possible to protect yourself 100% only in one case - if you do not have a car. There are two main tips: if possible, do not choose cars that are popular with car thieves and install good additional protection. A poorly hacked anti-theft system often forces you to leave your car alone and look for loot in the neighboring yard.

Even a very old or, on the contrary, terribly expensive and exclusive car does not guarantee the owner a restful sleep. In last year's theft report, ancient Audi 80 and 100 were stolen from their rightful owners almost 60 times! Among those stolen are one Bentley and three Mercedes-Maybach limousines, which never seem to be left unattended. Do you have a car that is not very popular among car thieves? Congratulations! But sometimes the mop also shoots. Last year's statistics included, in particular, 45 Citroens that are traditionally considered undetectable, 87 Peugeots, 63 UAZs of the 469/3151/Hunter family and four TagAZ SUVs. It’s hard to even find the latter! Their owners probably could not even imagine that one day they would not find their car under the window.

When broken down by model, the number of thefts of old domestic cars is striking. Of the 213 stolen VAZ-2101, -2102 and -2103 cars, a significant portion were taken, for example, “just for a ride” because the protection against theft was minimal. However, ten stolen 21st Volgas, 23 GAZ-24s, six GAZ cars of models 67 and 69 and 17 old Zaporozhets hint that criminals are also interested in collectibles. The risk is minimal: the owner rarely visits such a car, and for a new buyer it may not leave the garage at all. And what kind of inspector will check for theft of a Zaporozhets on the road?

Stolen from everywhere

The most common method of car theft is to steal it directly from the shopping center or porch to the entrance.
Often this happens in the daytime, with dozens of witnesses passing by and in the viewing area of ​​CCTV cameras. Often, studying recordings from video surveillance systems reveals that the owner of the car is being monitored by a certain person without any special distinctive features, while another with exactly the same features opens, starts the car and drives off in an unknown direction.

Agree that it is almost impossible to find the kidnappers this way. This banal algorithm allows you to steal cars that are equipped with a cheap budget security system, or without one at all.

Korea, go!

There are no surprises in the list of brands most susceptible to theft. Lada is the most popular brand, and more of these cars are stolen. There are also a lot of Toyotas, but the growth dynamics of their thefts cannot be compared with what Hyundai and Kia demonstrate. The Japanese company will soon find itself outside the top three in the gloomy ranking. This will benefit the image: many potential buyers refuse Toyota precisely because of the high likelihood of theft.

Frets are included in theft statistics as individual models, not families. In 2016–2017, the “sixes” and “sevens” were ahead of the Toyota Camry and not far behind the anti-rating leaders - Solaris and Rio. In 2018, the VAZ-2107 still ranks third in the absolute category, and Camry, even with the number of thefts decreasing by a third, displaced the VAZ-2106 to fifth place.

Ford Focus is no longer participating in the battle for dubious leadership. In recent years, its demand among criminals has dropped significantly following the market failure of the third generation machine.

If we discard the Lada and consider only foreign cars, the stolen top 10 will include four Toyotas - from the popular Corolla to the Land Cruiser 200 SUV. Even if we expand the list to the top 20, this figure will not be acceptable to anyone. Mazda (models 3, 6 and CX‑5) and Kia (Rio, Ceed and Sportage) will have a maximum of three models each.

The oldest on the list of the most stolen foreign cars is Daewoo Nexia. Demand for it is falling, but the thieves stole 196 cars.

How does the standard anti-theft system work on Lada Vesta and Khrey?

The system checks for the presence of a key with a built-in immobilizer chip in the ignition switch. If it is not there, then:

• The engine control unit stops sending a command to turn on the fuel pump relay.
• The main body electronics unit does not allow the starter to crank the engine.

This is an extremely simple anti-theft system with serious vulnerabilities:

• An attacker can replace the control unit and mechanically rotate the starter.
• The control unit can be reprogrammed without the ignition key. For example, just disable standard protection.

The control unit is practically not protected from intruders. It can be reprogrammed without an ignition key or simply replaced with a pre-prepared one. And the fact that the body electrical unit does not allow the engine to be cranked with the starter is poor protection against an experienced thief.

Everything is relative

Experts from the theft protection center Ugona.net went further and compared traffic police statistics with data on the number of registered cars. It turned out that out of 1000 cars of a particular model registered in the country, the most thefts occur on the Volga GAZ‑21 - 12.5! Yuri Detochkin’s business is alive and well. In second place is the Nissan GT-R: 6.2 thefts per 1,000 cars. Third place was shared by the newcomer Genesis G80 and... the old GAZ-69: 4.7 thefts each. Collectors should consider this.

But for the most stolen VAZ cars in absolute terms, this figure ranges from 0.4 to 0.6. The VAZ fleet is huge, so the relative data on thefts looks modest. Vesta and XRAY are not yet interesting to criminals: the theft risk coefficient is 0.2. This can be explained by the fact that XRAY and Vesta have just begun to come out of warranty and are entering an age when owners are already paying attention to used spare parts. The lack of love for these cars in the Caucasus also affects them - they don’t steal them!

In the premium segment (with rare exceptions), the relationship is simple: the more expensive the car, the higher the likelihood of theft. For example, for the Audi Q3 the index is 0.1, for the Q7 it is 0.7; for Mercedes A-class - 0.3, for S-class - at least 1.3. Lexuses are at risk of theft without exception: the minimum rating is 0.8–0.9 (IS, RX, GX), the maximum is 3.3–4.1 (LX and ES).

In other words, danger awaits everywhere. Do you want to worry less about your car? Provide him with a little more protection than the standard arsenal. Give preference to an individual approach and non-standard solutions.

The safety of a personal vehicle can be a real headache for the driver. Theft statistics can come to his aid. Owners of the most stolen cars in Russia should think about increasing the level of protection for their vehicle.

Autorobbery

Another variant of theft is widespread, when a car thief, under the threat of violence, kicks the car owner out of his already started car, or by this very method takes possession of the owner’s keys.

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It is quite difficult to foresee such circumstances, but it is very possible to prevent them. Do not go out to the car with the key fob in your hands the same second you hear the sound of its security siren. First, you should inspect the yard from the window of the house for hidden intruders. Be sure to lock all car doors in the direction of travel. When communicating with strangers on the road, do not lower the window all the way. Do not leave a running car unattended.

The most stolen car brands

New car models are released infrequently, and the preferences of criminals change gradually, so a list of the most stolen cars of 2016 can help understand the trend of 2018 or even 2022.

The top most stolen cars in Russia for 2016 are as follows:

• Lada – 31% of the total number of thefts; in total, about 8.5 thousand cars of this brand were stolen.
• Toyota – 16%.
• Hyundai – 7%.
• Kia – 6%.
• Nissan – 5%.
• Mazda – 4%.
• Renault – 4%.
• Ford – 4%.
• Mitsubishi – 3%.
• Honda – 3%.
• BMW – 3%.
• Mercedes – 3%.
• Volkswagen – 2%.
• Chevrolet – 2%.
• Lexus – 2%.
• Land Rover – 2%.
• Audi – 2%.
• Daewoo – 1%.
• Infinity – 1%.
• Gas – 1%.

Lada cars top the domestic theft ratings year after year. Firstly, there are simply the most of them in Russia, secondly, the criminals have managed to thoroughly study the standard protection system for AvtoVAZ products, and thirdly, the owners of some of these models have modest incomes that do not allow them to purchase an expensive and effective alarm system that can protect against intruders .

In 2014 and 2015, by the way, Lada and Toyota were also in the lead. By 2016, theft statistics for Kia and Hyundai cars had increased. If we talk about which regions have the most cars stolen in Russia, then no surprises are expected here - Moscow and St. Petersburg are in the lead.

Technical methods of protection

At the same time, there are a number of technical methods of protection. The satellite search system will play a huge role. At the first opportunity, you need to make a call to the remote control, or carry out the sequence of actions provided for during the robbery. As a rule, during a robbery of a car, the satellite signal is not jammed.

A number of immobilizers have the same algorithms. After opening the door, the security system will require the driver to confirm his identity for some time: perform actions in a certain order, scan a finger, etc.

Premium cars that are stolen more often than others

The list of the most stolen premium cars in Russia for 2022 is as follows:

1. Lexus LX – 174 pcs.
2. Mercedes E-Class – 155 pcs.
3. BMW X5 – 150 pcs.
4. BMW 5 – 139 pcs.
5. Mercedes S-Class – 137 pcs.
6. Land Rover Rang Rover – 118 pcs.
7. Lexus RX – 109 pcs.
8. BMW 3 – 101 pcs.
9. Infiniti FX/QX70 – 98 pcs.
10. Mercedes C-Class – 89 pcs.

The Lexus LX, which is in first place, has also been at the top of the list of the most stolen cars in terms of the ratio of cars sold/stolen for several years. To commit such crimes against luxury cars, the tag relay method is mainly used. If it is not identified, the electronic control unit will not start the engine.

Disadvantages of the standard anti-theft system of Lada Vesta

The standard anti-theft system on Lada Vesta and Lada Xrey ensures minimal vehicle safety. This is enough to prevent an inexperienced person from taking possession of the car. But such a system will not save you from an experienced thief.

The standard anti-theft system checks for the presence of a key with a built-in immobilizer chip in the ignition switch. If it is not there, then:

• The engine control unit stops sending a command to turn on the fuel pump relay.
• The main body electronics unit does not allow the starter to crank the engine.

This system has serious disadvantages:

• The control unit can be reprogrammed without an ignition key or simply replaced.
• The starter can be cranked mechanically.

An attacker can simply reprogram the control unit and disable the standard protection. Another common scenario is replacing the block with a pre-prepared one. An experienced thief will be able to replace components in just a couple of minutes. After this, the car will essentially be left without protection.

Theft rate in Moscow for 2018-2019

Theft statistics in Moscow at the beginning of 2022 are as follows:

1. Mazda 3 – 157 pcs.
2. Kia Rio – 118 pcs.
3. Hyundai Solaris – 110 pcs.
4. Ford Focus – 101 pcs.
5. Range Rover Evoque – 88 pcs.
6. Toyota Corolla – 74 pcs.
7. Toyota Camry – 65 pcs.
8. Honda Civic – 62 pcs.
9. Mitsubishi Lancer – 61 pcs.
10. Toyota Land Cruiser 200 – 57 pcs.

So far, Mazda is ahead of the most popular car among criminals in Moscow last year – Toyota. In terms of models, then, two of its representatives were in the lead: Toyota Camry and Toyota Land Cruiser 200. But Mazda 3 took off from its then ninth place, overtaking its “sister” Mazda CX 5 and all the others among the most stolen cars in Moscow. The formerly popular brainchild of the Mitsubishi concern, the Mitsubishi Outlander, is also not here.

Do-it-yourself installation of “Garant” on Vesta

To install a mechanical (pin) lock of the Garant Blok models on the Lada Vesta steering shaft, no special tools or accessories are required, so any experienced driver can do it independently.

To install “Garant” on Vesta with your own hands you need:

• hex keys and sockets;
• flat and Phillips screwdrivers;
• It is advisable to have a high-quality sharp chisel for dismantling the factory-installed breakaway bolt of a standard lock.

The procedure for installing the blocker is as follows:

1. Before starting work on the car’s electrical system, be sure to remove the terminals from the battery!
2. Disassemble the decorative cover of the steering column, remove the bracket for the wiring connectors.
3. Disconnect the wiring harness from the factory lock and remove it. You will need to remove the shear screws that secure it using a chisel or a hardened bit.
4. Install the body of the “Bastion” device in place of the removed factory lock. Secure with the clamp supplied, wrapping it around the steering column and tightening the two axles.
5. Screw in the two fixing screws and make sure that the unit is securely and rigidly fixed.
6. Mount the standard communication coil with the decorative cover of the cylinder mechanism on the new lock, return the bracket for fastening the wiring harnesses and connect the connectors of the pads.
7. Embed the starter start button from the Bastion kit into the plastic steering wheel casing, connect it to the device and secure the decorative parts in place.

Also check the electrical part of the device by starting the engine using the installed start button.

If all checks have confirmed the high-quality installation of the product, replace the standard keys in the immobilizer key fob with new ones from the Bastion kit.

Results:

At the end of 2022, 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.

You have become the proud owner of a Lada Vesta car and have decided to take care of its safety, since the car is in great demand among car owners; car thieves have a lot of options for selling it both on the secondary market and at scrap yards. The cost of your car will range from 515,000 rubles, and ends around 800,000 rubles; you will agree that it will be very annoying to lose all the money or part of the money that you invested in the car.

Casco will not protect your car from theft, and will not even cover all expenses for the car; usually, comprehensive insurance covers about 70% of the cost of the car.

In addition, in the event of theft, you still lose at least 2 months until the CASCO payment is due, until the criminal case is closed, all this time you will have to walk.

Theft statistics 2022

Car theft Car theft is a fairly popular crime. Its goal is to resell the car, but with different license plates, dismantle it for parts, or return it to the owner for a fee.

• The domestic Lada is most in demand in the automotive criminal world. The high rate of its theft is explained by the relative ease of theft, since the car is rarely equipped with a high-quality security system. A standard alarm system is not enough when professional criminals are involved.
• Japanese TOYOTA, highly valued by enthusiasts, takes second place in the ranking.
• Hyundai car thefts have increased significantly over the past few years, as have the volume of purchases.
• Kia has been in fourth place in theft statistics for two years now.

Additional alarm

1. The hood lock is locked and the relay is controlled using a code channel, or better if there is a code radio channel;
2. Engine blocking using a relay installed in the engine compartment. Control must be carried out via a code channel, or more reliably via a radio channel;
3. Ensuring protection of the diagnostic connector to eliminate the possibility of registering additional keys;
4. To prevent theft of the control unit in the engine compartment, install a safe on it in the engine compartment.

You can activate additional functions provided by this alarm option. Mechanical protection is installed on the steering wheel or gearbox. Together with the standard protection, the ERA-GONLASS system, additional and mechanical means of protecting the car from theft, the owner does not have to worry, the Lada Vesta will be protected.