Car and motorbike thefts on the increase, there’s an alarm: how to defend yourself?

Every day in Italy 285 cars and almost 90 motorcycles and mopeds are stoleni.e. over 136 thousand vehicles stolen in one year; the data comes from the analysis of statistics released by the Ministry of the Interior – Department of Public Security. Numbers of this type explain why, as highlighted by the Facile.it car liability observatory, almost every fourth motorist (24%) now chooses to protect their car with an insurance policy against theft. They were just 14% in 2022.

The geography of thefts in Europe and Italy

Analyzing Eurostat statistics we discover that Italy, with a ratio of 231 vehicle thefts per 100 thousand inhabitantsoccupies fourth position in the unenviable ranking of states with the highest number of thefts. Only Luxembourg does worse than us, with a ratio of 562 thefts per 100 thousand inhabitants, Switzerland (357) and Sweden (267). Slightly lower values ​​for France (198) and Greece (174), while the ratio is significantly lower in states such as Germany (70) and Spain (49) or Poland where the ratio stops at just 19.

Limiting the analysis to car thefts only – this time in absolute values ​​- and looking within national borders, Campania is in first place, where in the year of the survey there were 26,445 reported thefts. In second position is Lazio (18,071), in third place Sicily (15,555). The regions where, however, fewer thefts were recorded are Friuli-Venezia Giulia with 239 episodes, Trentino-Alto Adige (170) and Valle d’Aosta, where just 20 cars were stolen. Overall, the phenomenon concerns to a greater extent the regions of Southern Italywhere 45% of the total thefts occurred, followed by those in the Center (20%) and the Islands (16%). If we limit the analysis to motorcycles only, the first three positions change: in first place is Lazio with 5,985 thefts, followed by Campania (5,167) and Lombardy (4,178). For mopeds, however, the regions with the most reported thefts are Sicily (1,328), Campania (1,036) and Lombardy (968).

Tips for protecting yourself

In view of the summer holidays, Facile.it has drawn up a short five-point handbook to reduce the risk of your car being stolen.

1. Beware of “tactical” parking lots. Avoid parking in isolated, poorly lit areas or hidden by dense vegetation; they are the favorite place for thieves to operate undisturbed. Better to opt for an illuminated passage area and, if possible, covered by video surveillance systems; parking may cost, but it’s better to spend a few euros than lose your vehicle.

2. No objects in sight. Before getting out of the car, remember not to leave any objects in sight, even if they are of little value such as cables, coins, bags or bags (even empty ones). If you have to put something in the trunk, it’s best to do it before arriving at your destination. These are all elements that could entice passing thieves. Maybe they won’t steal the car, but a broken window or a forced lock can result in hundreds of euros in damage. The phenomenon of thefts from parked cars is not at all rare: 12 occur every hour, more than 100,000 per year.

3. The heat is better. The temperature in the car, especially if parked for hours in the sun, can easily exceed 40 degrees and the temptation to leave a window slightly open is high, but not only would it do nothing to reduce the heat, but it represents a safety risk.

4. Keys, remote controls and mechanical security devices. Among the latest frontiers in the field of theft is the cloning of the car remote control; thanks to technological devices, criminals are able to “capture” the frequencies and code of the car remote control and replicate it to open the vehicle at any time. If possible, therefore, it is better to lock the car with the key to reduce this risk. Another solution could be to add a mechanical safety device (such as a steering lock or pedal lock), which by definition is immune to this type of attack. Another small precaution: if you are going to the beach, avoid leaving your keys unattended under the umbrella when you enter the water.

5. Take out a theft insurance policy. It is an additional guarantee that must be added to the mandatory car insurance; few know it, but it can be signed at any time (even not at the same time as the civil liability) and even with a company other than the one that provides us with the car insurance and protects the owner not only in the event of total or partial theft of the vehicle, but also from any damage caused to the car during the break-in.