(April 19, 2016) LONDON — New statistics from NFU Mutual reveal that thefts of the recently discontinued Land Rover Defenders have increased by a staggering 75 percent, as gangs of thieves target rural areas to swipe vehicles.  The Defender ceased production in January, which has led to a significant rise in demand for the car and its parts. 

Backing NFU Mutual’s campaign to warn Land Rover owners to be vigilant, TRACKER, the UK’s leading stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) provider, adds that many of these stolen vehicles are being shipped overseas, and urges owners to fit a tracking device before they disappear for good.

Police forces across the UK are reporting a rise in thefts, with many fearing that criminal gangs with links to the U.S. and Eastern Europe are targeting owners.   Land Rover Defender owners are being advised to improve their security by investing several layers of protection, including trackers, alarms and steering-wheel locks.  NFU Mutual is also advising owners to mark components with paint and to keep vehicles locked up or parked in well-lit areas.  Following this advice will substantially increase the chances of these classic 4x4s being located and recovered.

Adrian Davenport, police liaison manager for TRACKER says, “Criminal gangs often target particular vehicles when demand increases and the Land Rover Defender is a popular vehicle all around the globe. Not surprisingly, since they’ve been discontinued, the Defender has risen to the top of the car thief’s hit list, with the northeast, southwest and the midlands reported to be where the highest number of insurance claims are being made.

“Owners of Defenders tend to live in rural areas, so well-lit parking isn’t always possible, making it vital that people ensure they take ample security measures.  A tracking device won’t stop a car being stolen, but it can significantly increase the chance of police locating and returning a vehicle to its owners."

Without a tracking device, Land Rover Defenders can be hidden in containers without detection and shipped abroad by organized criminal gangs who will make a profit. 

Tracking device systems work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle, and there is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t know it’s there.

“We strongly advise Land Rover Defender owners to choose a system that provides a more resilient solution and, better still, one that delivers multiple means of location and communication. TRACKER’s SVR systems use unique VHF technology, offering motorists effective safeguards against theft, even if the GPS does fail,” Davenport said.