The most stolen cars in 2022 included: Infiniti (QX70/FX, QX80/QX56), Lexus (GX, LX, RX), Toyota Camry. The main risk factors for these models are the region of use and the presence / absence of a non-standard anti-theft system installed on the vehicle.
Theft of Infiniti, Lexus and Toyota Camry is also due to their popularity. Criminals steal those models for which there is a demand. The fate of new cars is resale. Used cars are disassembled into parts that are sold on the "black" market.
A key feature of Infiniti and Lexus, which makes it easier for criminals to hijack, is the weakness of the regular immobilizer. Vehicles are equipped with a keyless entry system, thanks to which the hijackers can act immediately after the car is armed. This is done using a sensor on the driver's door handle or key fob. One car thief follows the owner of the car and, using a transmitter, transmits a signal to an accomplice. The latter stands next to the car. The signal he received deceives the regular system, which identifies the criminal with the owner of the vehicle. The hijackers spend no more than 10 seconds on the procedure, without breaking the ignition lock, damaging the driver's door lock cylinder and opening the plastic panels.
The most risky regions with a large number of vehicle thefts are St. Petersburg, Moscow Region, Moscow, Leningrad Region, Novosibirsk Region, Sverdlovsk Region, Ivanovo Region, Chelyabinsk Region. The first places in the ranking are also associated with the high population density in the regions and, as a result, a large number of private cars. It is worth noting that the criminals here are more "skilled", so theft most often occurs instantly and without a trace.
In terms of reducing the risk associated with theft, Helios recommends that the owners of such vehicle models install a non-standard anti-theft system before they are transferred for insurance. At the same time, it is important to understand that the alarm system “with feedback” and the “autostart” function installed on the vehicle only increases the risk of theft. Therefore, the choice of non-standard anti-theft systems must be approached carefully.
