- skyrocketing car thefts in Bavaria have become a notable issue
In Bavaria, car thefts saw a significant increase by one-third last year, as per figures from the insurance industry. With 400 insured vehicles being stolen in 2023, the number increased to 600 in the Free State the following year, reported the Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV).
Across the country, thieves made off with 14,585 insured cars, resulting in a total damage of 310 million euros. As GDV CEO Jörg Asmussen put it, "Not only did almost 20% more cars get stolen compared to the previous year, but the damage suffered by the victims also increased. On average, insurers had to pay out around 21,400 euros for each theft, a six percent increase from the previous year."
Berlin remains the epicenter of car theft. Last year, a staggering 4,266 insured passenger cars were reported missing in the city, representing a 46% increase from the previous year. In simpler terms, a car gets stolen every two hours in Berlin, making it the location for almost every third car theft nationwide, according to Asmussen.
Currently, Toyota is the preferred brand amongst car thieves. The list of the top ten most frequently stolen models includes five models from Toyota. Leading the pack are the Land Cruiser and variants of the Lexus NX and Lexus UX. Luxury and upper-middle class SUVs are particularly attractive targets for thieves.
The European Union expressed concern about the rising car thefts in Germany, given its reputation for vehicle manufacturing and safety. Despite efforts by the German government and insurance industry, the European Union urged for increased cooperation to combat this issue on a broader scale.
