Car theft in India is on the rise

You leave from your home for your workplace in the morning and park your car at the usual spot. You spend the day at the workplace, and get to work. At the end of the day, you’ve finished all your tasks, and are happy that it’s finally time to leave. You pack up all your belongings, and head to the parking lot. You reach your parking spot and discover your car is nowhere to be seen. You realize your car has been stolen, and anxiety and panic suddenly hits you. By the time you reach the nearest police station, there are high chances that your beloved ride has already reached places like ‘Mayapuri’ or ‘Sotiganj’, and has already been stripped and chopped. 

India saw a 2.5x hike in vehicle theft in 2023

In 2023, India witnessed a spike of 2.5x in the number of cars stolen, as compared to 2022. The national capital, New Delhi, accounts for more than 56% of the total vehicle theft in India. Places like Bhajanpura and Uttam Nagar were hotspots for vehicle theft in Delhi. Data provided by the Delhi Police indicates that between 2011 and 2020, more than 3 Lakh cars were stolen in the national capital. According to reports, a vehicle was stolen every 14 minutes in the national capital, amounting to 105 vehicles stolen each day. Other cities like Chennai and Bengaluru also saw a spike in cases of vehicle theft, but the numbers were nowhere as alarming as the national capital. Cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai reported the least number of vehicle thefts in the same year. 

The report also highlighted makes and models that were among the thieves’ favourites. It stated that 47% of the cars stolen were Maruti Suzuki Wagon Rs, followed by Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Creta, Hyundai Grand i10, Honda City, and Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Among these thefts, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays saw the highest number of cases. 

Factors that influence increasing car theft

Factors such as the unavailability of parking spaces, especially in the national capital, and the thriving used car market for vehicles and spare parts surrounding metro cities, are primarily contributing to the increased theft. Additionally, if the thieves are unable to steal the entire vehicle, they get away with stealing the car’s tyres, leaving your car behind atop some bricks. Other expensive items, such as side view mirrors and headlights on high-end luxury cars, are known to be lucrative to thieves as they fetch good amounts in the ‘stolen goods’ market, or ‘chor bazar’.

How to prevent your vehicle from being stolen?

Try to park your car in a safe location, such as gated car parkings, or in places where your car is visible to you at all times. You can also leverage aftermarket safety products, such as steering and gear locks, to deter thieves from stealing your car. Modern cars may come with security features, such as GPS trackers, but the modern day thieves have also upgraded their tactics, utilizing signal jammers, to render GPS trackers useless. Parking your vehicle in a safe space, paired with safety measures such as gear and steering locks, can help mitigate the chances of your vehicle being stolen.