According to the interior ministry statistics, the rate of theft reached its highest point in 2022. The early part of the year showed a noticeable decrease in theft incidents, while organized patterns of hijacker activity tended to peak in the spring and again in late summer and early autumn of 2022. Law enforcement and insurance analysts highlight that the fluctuation in theft numbers often aligns with seasonal factors, changes in market demand for stolen vehicles, and variations in criminal networks’ targeting practices. In the broader picture, the year demonstrated a shift in which certain times of the year brought sharper spikes and others calmer periods, shaping how owners and insurers approached vehicle security.
The analysis identifies a clear pattern of risk among owners of specific vehicle makes that are popular in the local market. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia vehicles were repeatedly cited as frequent targets for intruders across the year. By year end, the Hyundai Palisade stood out as a model with particularly high theft exposure, with the data indicating that a noticeable share of insured Palisades were stolen. This finding comes from Renaissance Insurance Group, which based its assessment on internal statistics and released a study through Za Rulem that provides a detailed breakdown of model vulnerability and theft dynamics for the period studied.
Further to this, the top five most-targeted models included the Genesis G70, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia Sorento, in addition to the Palisade. The combination of high popularity with criminals and strong market demand for these models helps explain why these vehicles attracted more attention from thieves. Analysts from the insurance sector point out that cars with high demand on the used parts market, or those that are common in everyday driving, can also be attractive to criminals who rely on the parts economy for later resale and analysis. The result is a cycle where popular models face a higher risk of theft and parts-related exploitation, underscoring the importance of enhanced security measures and vigilant insurance monitoring for owners of these vehicles.
The observations are supported by industry commentary and statistical summaries that emphasize the ongoing relevance of model-specific risk. Stakeholders—including insurers, law enforcement partners, and vehicle owners—are urged to consider targeted security upgrades, such as advanced immobilizers, GPS tracking, and robust anti-theft systems. These measures can contribute to lowering the probability of theft and speeding up recovery in the unfortunate event that a vehicle is stolen. The discussion reflects a broader trend in which theft risk is influenced by vehicle popularity, market demand, and the operational patterns of criminal networks. The information is drawn from a synthesis of official statistics and industry analysis released during the year and provides a practical perspective for understanding theft dynamics in the current market landscape.