Stolen Range Rover Found in Pakistan: High-Tech Car Thefts Surge in UK
High-tech car thefts have risen in the UK, with gangs using expensive devices to target keyless entry systems. A Range Rover stolen from Harrogate in November 2022 was recently tracked down in Karachi, Pakistan, highlighting the international scale of this crime.
The Range Rover, worth tens of thousands of pounds, was taken using a £20,000 device that mimics the owner's key fob signal. This allowed thieves to unlock and start the car without the real key. The vehicle's location briefly showed as Karachi earlier this year, 5,000 miles away from its original location.
Interpol assisted in tracking the car, which was likely smuggled abroad in a container labeled 'used car parts' or 'household goods'. The car's chassis number was changed, and it was given local number plates after being stolen. This is a common practice to avoid detection.
Demand for foreign luxury SUVs has surged in Pakistan, with many buyers unaware that the vehicles they purchase may have been stolen. Another luxury car, a Bentley, was also found in Pakistan after being allegedly stolen in London in 2022. Stolen cars are often rapidly shipped abroad, broken into parts, and sold in second-hand dealerships or scrapyards in other countries.
In the UK, about 130,000 vehicles are stolen each year, with many taken from driveways or streets outside homes. In 2022 and 2023, the Range Rover Sport was the most stolen vehicle. Toyota was the car manufacturer whose vehicles were most frequently stolen, with popular models including the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus NX and UX variants.
The international nature of car theft, facilitated by sophisticated technology and organized crime, highlights the need for global cooperation in tackling this issue. Vehicle owners are advised to take precautions to protect their cars, such as using steering locks and CCTV systems. Law enforcement agencies worldwide continue to work together to track and recover stolen vehicles.
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