UK car theft trends show rise in crossover and EV targeting

Data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), analyzed by Tempcover, reveals that 25,050 cars were reported stolen in the UK between January 1 and June 30, 2026. This averages to approximately 138 thefts per day. While this figure represents a decline from the 27,831 thefts reported during the same period in 2025, theft patterns are evolving.

Criminals are increasingly targeting popular crossovers and zero-emission vehicles. The Nissan Juke Tekna CVT (petrol) was identified as the most stolen vehicle variant, with 197 thefts, a 19% increase from the previous year. The Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV CVT ranked second with 160 thefts. Electric and hybrid models, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate EV, are also appearing more frequently in theft statistics.

Conversely, thefts of the Ford Fiesta have declined significantly following the model's discontinuation in 2023. The Ford Fiesta Titanium Turbo was the highest-ranked Fiesta variant, placing third overall. Reports indicate that vehicles equipped with keyless entry and push-to-start ignition are frequently targeted using relay devices.