By 2022, alarms from car owners climbed by as much as 30 percent, according to experts at the security firm Delta Security Systems. The firm’s analysts reviewed 150,000 alarm reports from 2021 and 2022. The findings indicate a rise in illegal activity targeting vehicles over the previous six months.
On a monthly basis, incoming alarm signals grew compared with the same period the year before, rising from 10 percent to 30 percent. The spike in hijacking attempts and other unlawful actions peaked in March and April, these months accounting for 30 percent of all alarms in 2022. February and July recorded the lowest levels.
The most frequently targeted models among attackers include:
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota RAV4
- Mazda 6
- Mazda CX-9
- Mercedes-Benz GLE53 AMG
- Mercedes-Benz S400
- BMW
The highest alarm counts were seen in the two capitals, with Saint Petersburg showing a six-month increase of 31 percent and Moscow 25 percent.
Experts from the company attribute the uptick in hijacking attempts to rising spare parts prices and ongoing shortages. Many incidents appear aimed at dismantling vehicles for individual components and selling those parts on the market.
Given the nature of the thwarted theft attempts, the pattern suggests that this scheme will persist, particularly for brands that have officially exited the Russian market or for mass-market models experiencing supply chain problems for spare parts.
A new trend has emerged: fraudulent activity connected with leased cars. Attacks include schemes to sell vehicles for spare parts and fraudulent insurance claims tied to leased vehicles.
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