New crime data from the first quarter of 2024 in Russia shows a sharp drop in car thefts, with the number cutting to about one-third of previous levels. The thieves commonly targeted BMW and Hyundai models, according to a report referenced by Izvestia and the VSK insurance company.
The slate of most-stolen cars for 2024 has shifted. Earlier, Hyundai and Kia dominated the anti-rating, but this year Hyundai and BMW are at the top. Experts note that BMW X5 and Hyundai Santa Fe were among the most stolen models at the end of 2023, and those patterns seem to be continuing into 2024. This shift reflects evolving attack trends and changing vehicle features that thieves target.
Industry insights also show that at least half of all thefts involve vehicles that are part of corporate fleets. Fleet users may face higher exposure due to shared access, management, and maintenance practices that can leave gaps for criminals to exploit.
In the past, some Chinese-made cars have shown weaker defenses against electronic intrusion. Their immobilizers can sometimes be bypassed through diagnostic interfaces, enabling the registration of extra keys or tags with relative ease. Publicly available electronic codes and key configurations for certain Chinese models sometimes circulate online, and attackers can work from the VIN to identify vulnerable configurations.
Additionally, Chinese models have been criticized for their door security, with concerns about master-key vulnerabilities and horn suppression, which can complicate alarm and alert features. Gaining access can also involve easy hood opening in some situations, underscoring areas where security improvements are needed across the market.
Automobile security consultant Igor Morzharetto has previously offered practical recommendations to help protect vehicles from theft, emphasizing layered defenses, routine checks, and mindful parking and tracking strategies. These tips aim to reduce risk across diverse vehicle types and use cases, from personal cars to company fleets, and can be applied by owners in North American contexts as well. (Source attribution: VSK insurance insights and automotive risk experts, 2024 report).