Vehicle theft statistics recently released by one of the leading vehicle
tracking companies in South Africa, Netstar, provide a sobering wake-up call for
all those urban 4x4 and bakkie (pickup truck) owners who drive these vehicles for
image rather than need. 11 out of the top 20 most sought after vehicles by car thieves
were bakkies and 4x4s.
The
Nissan 1400 bakkie was the most sought after vehicle with a total of
507 fitted with this company's tracking devices stolen during a 12-month period
from August 2007 to July 2008. These little workhorse vehicles are a huge favorite
with thieves as the number two contender, the
Nissan Hardbody, came in with
only 141 stolen.
The second most targeted type of vehicle was the sedan. In particular, luxury sedans
are a big hit with thieves. The
BMW 318 was the most popular choice of sedan
by these vehicle villains with 77 stolen during this period. The two entry level
sedans/hatchbacks that made it into the top 20 were the
Nissan Sentra and
the
Mazda 323.
For consumers thinking of purchasing a vehicle that won't require a fortune to insure
these statistics indicate that bakkies and luxury sedans should be avoided. Vehicle
theft statistics play a major role in how insurance companies determine insurance
premiums for vehicles. Vehicles that are vigorously targeted by car theft syndicates
are a higher risk to insurance companies, so they increase premiums in order to
compensate for this additional risk.
Some cars are less popular with syndicates for practical reasons such as the availability
of parts at chop shops where these stolen vehicles are refurbished. In general newer
model and less popular vehicles fall into this category which could explain why
vehicles like the
Hyundai Getz and
Nissan Primera came in around the
150th position.
The top 20
'Most Sought After Cars' according to these statistics are as
follows:
1. Nissan 1400 - 507 Stolen
2. Nissan Hardbody - 141 Stolen
3. Mitsubishi Colt - 125 Stolen
4. Isuzu KB280 - 122 Stolen
5. Isuzu KB250 - 114 Stolen
6. BMW 318 - 77 Stolen
7. Ford Courier - 65 Stolen
8. Audi A4 - 62 Stolen
9. Nissan 1 Ton - 61 Stolen
10. BMW 320i - 58 Stolen
11. Ford Ranger - 57 Stolen
12. Mitsubishi L300 - 52 Stolen
13. Ford Bantam - 51 Stolen
14. Mazda Drifter - 43 Stolen
15. Mercedes C200 - 43 Stolen
16. Jeep Cherokee - 42 Stolen
17. Nissan Sentra - 41 Stolen
18. Mazda 323 - 40 Stolen
19. MAN - 35 Stolen
20. Mercedes Sprinter - 32 Stolen
** Totals from August 2007 to July 2008
Please note that these statistics are from one of the leading vehicle tracking companies
in South Africa, but should not be regarded as encompassing statistics for all vehicle
thefts throughout South Africa during this period. These statistics do however provide
a 'feel' for what is happening in the country.