Despites an overall decrease in the number of cars stolen between last year and this year, police statistics show that there is an increase in theft of two specific brands: Mitsubishi Lancers and Nissan AD wagons.
The statistics was revealed yesterday during the police weekly press briefing by Sgt Christopher Swamber of the Stolen Vehicles Unit.
This year 715 cars were stolen, either directly from the owner (robbery) or taken while the owner was away from the vehicle (larceny). Last year for the combined offences 817 vehicles were taken from their owners. Last year 12 Mitsubishi Lancers were stolen and almost three times as much, 33, were stolen so far for this year.
Police have also noticed a trend as 14 Nissan AD wagons were stolen last year while 26 were taken by car thieves this year. The figures are reflected for periods January 1 to November 9. Nissan Tiidas is also a top choice for car thieves with 80 stolen last year and 94 this year, Swamber said.
Swamber, at a previous media briefing said Nissan Tiidas were targeted, particularly white and silver grey, because of their ease to go undetected on the roads because of the number of similar cars on the road.
Asked to explain the jump in stolen Nissan AD Wagons and Lancers, Swamber said that parts for those vehicles were becoming harder to get and the stolen cars are often stripped for spare parts. He said the stolen car racket was a multi-million dollar illegal industry.
Also commenting on the stolen vehicles statistics was public information officers, ASP Michael Pierre, who said there have been an increase in stolen vehicles in Central and Northern Division, the two divisions which account for the highest number of murders.
Asked if there was a correlation between the two, Pierre said he could not say until there was a proper analysis of the statistics.
Swamber advised car owners to place identification marks on their vehicles in places that they alone would be able to identify if stolen. He said that people wanting to purchase cars should be diligent and don’t carry around wads of cash and so avoid being robbed.