A total of 11,273 vans, valued at approximately £200 million, were reported stolen in the UK last year, reflecting an average of 31 thefts every day, according to new data released by Direct Line van insurance.
Just two in five (39%) stolen vans were recovered by the police – totalling 4,450 vans. While van thefts have declined in 2024 compared to 2023, the high number of thefts highlights the ongoing issue of van security and the need for increased preventive measures.
Among stolen vans, the Ford Transit was the most targeted model, with nearly 6,000 stolen (5,906), accounting for more than half (52%) of all thefts. Given the Ford Transit is the UK’s most licensed van, its popularity makes it a prime target for criminals. Despite this, more than 2,000 (2,041) Ford Transits were successfully recovered by the police, comprising nearly half (46%) of total vans retrieved.
Amongst the top five most stolen van models, the Peugeot Boxer had the highest proportion of vans stolen compared to the number of licensed vans on the road, with 7.7 thefts per 1,000 licensed vans.
