Car Thieves Can't Get Enough Of The Land Rover Defender Because It's Cooler Than Ever

With values rising following the end of production, the Defender is becoming an increasingly popular target for thieves
Car Thieves Can't Get Enough Of The Land Rover Defender Because It's Cooler Than Ever

Following the end of Land Rover Defender production earlier this year, something rather inevitable happened. Demand for used examples went up, and so did values. Since the Defender - which was in production in one form or another for 68 years - has never been a particularly secure vehicle, this means there’s been a spike in thefts.

In South Yorkshire for example, Defender sales have shot up by 69 per cent in the last few months, and in the last 12 months insurers NFU Mutual said that claims for the vehicles had hit £760,000. A big chunk of the cars are stolen to order before being shipped out of the country.

To make matters worse, it seems many thieves are particularly adept at getting around the Defender’s standard security systems. Sergeant Nick Hill of North Yorkshire Police said: “It appears an organised group of criminals is specifically targeting this make and model of vehicle….Of greatest concern to us is that it is evident these thieves have knowledge of this particular vehicle’s factory-fitted security and electrical systems.”

In response, police are advising owners to consider fitting aftermarket security systems such as tracking devices

Sources: The Northern Echo and Autocar

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Comments

Mickey Mouse

They’re also pretty durable in case they want to do more heists!

04/11/2016 - 15:49 |
2 | 2
Thug Bird

Oh Disklooooooook!

squawk

04/11/2016 - 15:53 |
100 | 2

When you’re the Social Media dude for Disklok and find a post relating to your brand at 8pm.

04/11/2016 - 18:54 |
48 | 2

My families Defender was attempted to be stolen a few years back (the thief couldn’t find the immobilizer switch and got caught and sent to prison) but sadly were more succesful last October and got away with it :’’’’(. Sadly with a Defender there a a lot of professional criminals out there that know there way around a Defender so well they can get still steal it within minutes even if you have a Disklok (or similar clamp), Clutch Pedal Claw, Immobilizer and more like we had all of! D: You realize if they want they can take it, its just a matter of how many deterrents you can fit. The thieves are known to cut driveshafts to overcome not being able to start it or drive it and push it onto a trailer and in a lot of cases even drag it onto a low with a winch onto a low loader. The problem we’re having with insurance is they will only give us the money they given to other victims in the past for similar models but won’t acknowledge how the value has gone up significantly and can’t use the money they give us to buy another.

04/11/2016 - 20:30 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Seems like the Defender can’t DEFEND itself.

04/11/2016 - 15:57 |
238 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

dun dum tisss

04/11/2016 - 15:58 |
14 | 0
HfromB

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Damn. I was about to comment this XD

But after every attack it starts a new DISCOVERY

04/11/2016 - 16:08 |
40 | 0
Anton 3

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

An it’s competitor, the G-class is mostly driven by G’s.

04/11/2016 - 18:16 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I just want to know what EVOUQUE’s them to do so.

04/12/2016 - 10:05 |
0 | 0
Danny_2cv

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Comment of the week!!!

04/12/2016 - 18:36 |
0 | 0
Gwizard11

Sadly they do what ever it takes to steal them. This even means that they will drag them onto trailers if they can’t get them started. Worse thing is some people just seem to steel them and then burn them down.

04/11/2016 - 16:01 |
0 | 0
H5SKB4RU (Returned to CT)

I got a neigbhor with a defender, i will gift him a vintage dislokk

04/11/2016 - 16:04 |
2 | 0

Vintage, yet still unbeaten. What a great gift!

04/11/2016 - 18:55 |
18 | 0

Did they ever find it?

04/11/2016 - 16:24 |
0 | 0

knock knock Can you spare a moment to talk about our lord and saviour “Security”?

04/11/2016 - 18:56 |
4 | 0
OD_Emperor

Hmm. I guess LR will have to keep making the Defender so this doesn’t happen. What a shame…

04/11/2016 - 16:15 |
12 | 0
RomanianRacer

Where is dislok when ya need em?

04/11/2016 - 16:18 |
8 | 0

Hello.

04/11/2016 - 18:53 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

Really a great unique car. No jeep is harder than the Land Rover Defender.

04/11/2016 - 16:20 |
2 | 0
Emite45

Waiting for Dislok to comment like :

04/11/2016 - 16:35 |
40 | 0

Eating popcorn like we do thieves. For breakfast.

04/11/2016 - 18:54 |
28 | 0