The number of car thefts has returned to pre-war levels

Which cars are most commonly stolen in Ukraine?

2 February 2024

After a record increase in car thefts in the first year of the full-scale war, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of car thefts is returning to the usual level. In 2023, almost as many car thefts were recorded as before the full-scale war. The regions with the highest frequency of car thefts include Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson.

In Ukraine, 1,278 car thefts were recorded throughout 2023. This is almost 90% less than in 2022 when a record number of car thefts were reported — 12,448 cars. For comparison, in 2021, there were 1,148 stolen cars.

The number of car thefts
Year20192020202120222023
The number of car thefts2,4341,7541,14812,4481,278

Last year, half of the car thefts happened in three regions near the frontline regions. Donetsk region had the highest number for the second consecutive year, with 375 stolen vehicles, followed by Kherson region with 178, and Dnipropetrovsk region with 168 car thefts.

Before the full-scale war, most cars were stolen in Kyiv, accounting for 34% of all car thefts in 2021.

In 2023, the lowest number of car thefts was recorded in Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, each with four car thefts.

Last year, criminals most frequently stole cars, especially sedans (59%), and trucks (15%), while scooters were stolen the least, making up less than 1%.

What kind of vehicle is stolen most often?
Passenger car75459.0%
Truck18614.6%
Trailer1017.9%
Motorcycle947.4%
Moped493.8%
Tractor453.5%
Bus (minibus)272.1%
Tractor trailer161.3%
Scooter60.5%

Last year, among car thieves, the most popular car brand was VAZ, with 206 stolen cars, accounting for 16% of the total. Other brands that made it to the top included GAZ with 60 (4.7%), Volkswagen with 46 (3.6%), Renault with 42 (3.3%), and Hyundai with 30 (2.3%).

The most frequently stolen car brand in Ukraine
ВАЗ20616.1%
ГАЗ604.7%
VOLKSWAGEN463.6%
RENAULT423.3%
HYUNDAI302.3%
ЗАЗ302.3%
NISSAN292.3%
УАЗ292.3%
FORD282.2%
Other77860.9%

When it comes to car models, the preferences of car thieves have changed a bit compared to previous years. In 2023, the most frequently stolen models were: VAZ (Lada) 2107, 21063, 2121, 2106, and DAEWOO LANOS.

For comparison, in the previous years 2021-2022, criminals more often stole models like Renault Duster, Volkswagen Transporter, Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe, and Mitsubishi Outlander.

As of the end of January 2024, there have been 78,395 reported car thefts in the registry. The oldest entry regarding car theft is dated July 8, 1980.

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