It’s a commonly held belief that old vehicles are more likely to be targeted by thieves than new ones as they are easier to access and start.
The reality, however, is that no vehicles are safe, regardless of their age.
It comes down to the specific reason a vehicle is being targeted rather than its age. While the model year can play a role, it’s unlikely to be the primary reason for a car being stolen.
Pros and cons of age
The benefit of having an older vehicle, in the context of theft and hijacking, is that it generally has a lower resale value than a new one.
As such, it will be less appealing to criminals wanting to make a big profit, writes vehicle telematics firm Cartrack.
Likewise, many old models are less popular on the black market, meaning criminals get less for them, which could deter them from targeting the car.
Seasoned vehicles are also not fitted with modern technology such as keyless-entry systems, the latter of which are often vulnerable to attacks from today’s sophisticated syndicates, said Cartrack.
The absence of these technologies in old cars may make them harder to steal as it might require force, which could take more time, make more noise, and cause more damage to the car than what something like key signal jamming would.
Albeit so, there are certain qualities of older autos that make criminals prefer them over a fresh set of wheels.
Parts availability generally diminishes with the age of a car but that doesn’t mean owners no longer need them, quite the opposite, in fact.
Criminals therefore steal these vehicles, strip them, and sell their components on the black market, which sometimes even includes the engine and the interior, to owners of similar models who can’t find or afford these parts new anymore.
Another aspect is that aged cars lack the advanced security features present in newer ones such as immobilisers and motion sensors, and the lack thereof can make them an easy target.
Finally, cross-border smuggling is a frequent reason for cars being stolen in South Africa.
Reports in recent years indicate that criminal syndicates target older cars and ship them into neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique, said Cartrack.
These syndicates use false documents to get the cars into neighbouring countries where they are reregistered and sold, stripped for parts, and in some instances, used to commit other crimes.
Most stolen cars in South Africa
When looking at the list of the most frequently thieved vehicles in South Africa, it becomes clearer that age doesn’t take up much space in the minds of criminals.
According to Fidelity ADT, the 13 most high-risk vehicles in the country at the moment include:
- Ford Ranger
- Hyundai i20
- Nissan Almera
- Nissan NP200
- Toyota Corolla Cross
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Etios
- Toyota Fortuner (GD-6 and D-4D)
- Toyota Hilux (GD-6 and D-4D)
- Toyota Prado
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Toyota RAV4
- VW Polo
Most of these nameplates have been on the market for decades and are highly sought after both in the new and used sectors, which generally translates to black market demand.
Case in point, Fidelity highlighted that the Toyota Fortuner and Hilux are stolen in both D-4D and GD-6 guises, which refer to the previous and current-generation powertrains. This means that any Fortuner or Hilux sold within the last two decades can be a target.
Another thing to point out is that the Nissan Almera and NP200 have both been discontinued in the South African market but are still regularly stolen.
In their heyday, these Nissans were two of the most popular cars in the country and many of them are still travelling the roads to this day, suggesting that constrained parts availability is the chief driver behind the continued theft and hijacking of these particular autos.
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