INFOGRAPHIC. Car theft: Renault, Peugeot, Lexus… which models have been the most targeted in France in 2023?

This is far from the best… In France, car thefts increased significantly in 2023. No less than 70,649 claims were recorded, an increase of 11.1% per year compared to 2022, according to shared statistics Argos Economic Interest Group (EIG) and taken by our colleagues from Parisian. Car thefts are finally returning to levels that were observed before the health crisis. Since then, the readings have continued to increase: “In 2022, we had already seen an increase, but in 2023 it will be a clear acceleration when car theft was at a lower level than fifteen years ago” , analyzes Franck Le Valois, managing director of a French insurance company.

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From year to year, the modus operandi also seems to change: “In the past, it was more about the theft of opportunities, where more and more, we are faced with well-organized networks, focused on international traffic” , analyzes Benoît Leclair, director of GIE Argos, with our colleagues. And in 70% of cases, criminals generally commit their crimes without breaking, using the most sophisticated tools: air springs that allow the doors to be pushed aside, jammers that prevent the car from being completely closed, or systems called “relay attack”, which the possibility of copying signals sent by proprietary keys.

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In France, some areas seem to be more affected than others: thefts mainly take place in big cities. The frequency of flights, however, seems to be very high in Bouches-du-Rhône, Ile-de-France, Corsica, Loire-Atlantique and even Rhône.

Renault Clio IV, Peugeot 3008…

What about the most stolen models in France? In detail, when it comes to theft, cars do not escape the basic law of “supply and demand”: “The best-selling models are also the most stolen,” continues Benoît Leclerc. There Renault Clio IV leads the list, with 2,378 reported thefts in 2023. Then it follows Renault Mégane IV (1,297 flights recorded), the Peugeot 3008 II (1 181 birds), no Peugeot 308 II (1,177 flights) and Toyota RAV4 V (Volume 1 151).

These figures must, however, be compared to the number of best-selling cars in the country. And there is a change in ranking: if we consider the number of best-selling models, Lexus RX It is the car most targeted for theft, followed by Toyota RAV4 Vfrom Lexus NXandAudi A3 III. According to Benoît Leclair, the cars most prone to theft are targeted because of detectable security vulnerabilities. There is also demand for special spare parts abroad.