Luxury sedans are the object of desire for many drivers. However, they do not arouse as much interest among car thieves. For them, the priority is veteran bestsellers. This is shown by the data collected in the report Los robos en automóviles españoles en 2019 recently published by Estamos Seguros, the initiative to disseminate insurance culture promoted by Unespa, with data provided by Centro Zaragoza and TIREA.
According to this study, the five most stolen car models in Spain that year were the Seat Ibiza, the Seat León, the Volkswagen Golf, the Ford Focus and the BMW 3 Series. The list continues with other classics of Spanish roads such as the Citroën Xsara, the Peugeot 206, the Ford Fiesta, the Renault Mégane or the Opel Astra. In other words, the friends of the unwanted covet vehicles that can be seen on the streets and roads of the country on a daily basis. Their target is the bestsellers with a long history. And what is the main reason? The sale of repair parts.
Six out of 10 theft incidents involve vehicles between 11 and 25 years old. In other words, those most likely to need a replacement. The incidence of theft among so-called "old vehicles" is higher than their relative weight in the national fleet as a whole (57%). Younger vehicles, those less than five years old since registration, account for 18% of thefts. This figure is somewhat lower than their representation (19%) among all vehicles in the country. The improvements in anti-theft systems introduced by manufacturers in the most recent new vehicles have an impact on this good figure, as is logical.
According to the Estamos Seguros study, in 2019 there were 128,000 theft mishaps in insured vehicles. This is the lowest figure of the entire decade. These incidents include both the disappearance of the vehicle itself, as well as the theft of any object in its passenger compartment or any of its components.
Theft insurance is a coverage that drivers take out of their own free will. Although it is not compulsory (only third party insurance is), it is becoming more and more widely accepted. In fact, 66% of the vehicle fleet is protected against this eventuality. In total, 15.8 million vehicles in Spain are covered against theft by their insurer. Ninety-two percent are passenger cars.
While the vehicles that suffer the most incidents are the most common, mid-range passenger cars, the models that suffer the most theft mishaps in relative terms (i.e. those that are stolen the most in relation to the number of units in existence) are others. Nor is this list dominated by luxury models. Instead, it is truffled with models dedicated to cargo and delivery.
The ranking of vehicles most likely to be stolen is made up of the Citroën Jumper, Fiat Doblo Cargo and Fiat Fiorino vans; along with the BMW X5 (this is a high-end SUV) and a very popular utility vehicle: the Ford Focus. All these models are between three and four times more likely to be stolen than any other vehicle in Spain.
Territorial distribution:
If the make, model and age of the car move the appetite of thieves, it is also true that the environment also influences the work of friends of thieves. According to the report, the provinces where it is most likely to suffer a theft of the vehicle or in the vehicle are Seville, Madrid, Huelva and Barcelona.
An analysis by municipality places Melilla at the head of the localities where it is most likely to suffer an incident of these characteristics. However, this autonomous city is in this position due to its unique geographical location. Its proximity to Morocco means that vehicle theft there is governed by a specific pattern: "stealing for export".
The dominant trend in Spain as a whole is different. The large conurbations are the areas where most crimes against vehicles take place. Crimes committed with an eye on the aftermarket, as mentioned above. This is borne out by taking a look at the towns with the highest theft probability differentials. In this ranking, municipalities located on the periphery of a large capital abound. This is the case of Dos Hermanas, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Parla, Fuenlabrada, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Badalona and Móstoles. This list of localities is accompanied, in addition to Melilla, by two provincial capitals: Seville and Huelva.
News Source: Seguros News 16/02/2021