It may be coming to the end of the road next year, but the Ford Fiesta is the most stolen model, according to research from a car leasing company.
Rivervale Leasing submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to find the most stolen car in 2022 in the UK as well as the total number of vehicles stolen.
The top 15 cars stolen in 2022
Using DVLA data, Rivervale Leasing uncovered that the soon-to-be discontinued Ford Fiesta remains at the top spot for stolen vehicles in the UK. Despite coming off the market in mid-2023, the popular hatchback remains a go-to motor being the best-selling car in October 2022 according to the SMMT, but drivers are at risk of their Fiesta being stolen.
Seven expert tips to protect your vehicle from theft
If your car is high up on the list, or you just want to increase your vehicle’s safety, motoring experts at Rivervale Leasing have seven tips to prevent your car from being stolen:
- Ensure you’ve locked your car – the most simple is the most effective when you leave your car, make sure to lock it – don’t rely on automatic locking
- Don’t keep your keys by your door – put your keys out of the view of the front door to help reduce the chance of opportunist thieves
- Leave your car in gear with the wheel on the curb – turning against a curb can help prevent your car from being towed
- Fit a tracker – to help if your car is stolen, you can fit a tracker to make it easier for the police to recover it
- Install a visible security camera – having a camera in view looking towards your car will help to deter thieves from your home
- Carefully choose where you park – avoid parking in a car park, especially at night, if it doesn’t have adequate lighting, CCTV and is quiet
- Don’t leave your documents in the car – make sure you don’t leave your logbook, service records, etc. in your vehicle as it can make it easier for your car to be sold
Vince Pemberton, CEO and automotive expert at Rivervale advised, “Keyless car theft known as relay theft is becoming increasingly more common. This is where people take advantage of keyless entry, using a device to capture the signal sent to the car.
“It’s hard to prevent but you can help reduce your chances of being a victim by storing your keys in a pouch or box designed to block the signal. A steering lock and additional car alarm can also help to stop thieves from accessing and stealing your car.
“Finally, keep an eye out for people lurking around, especially when leaving your vehicle. If you think someone is a threat, notify the police.”