High-end SUVs have become the flavour of the month for car thieves, says Stephen Macri, National Team Leader at Dawes Motor Insurance.

The Dawes claims team has seen theft claims spike for vehicles including 2020 or 2021 model Porsche Cayennes, especially GTS or Turbo models, Mercedes G-series, and top of the line Range Rover Sport models.

“We’ve seen an increase in thefts of high-end SUVs, that typically retail in the $350,000 - $400,000 range, for nine to twelve months now,” he says. “Theft trends tend to go in cycles, previously we experienced an increase in thefts of high-performance Commodores, high-end sports cars and, prior to that, classic cars.”

What is driving the increase in high-end SUV thefts? 

Stephen says that based on claims data, the thefts seem to be either opportunistic, or carried out by organised crime syndicates.

He says two factors that could be driving the trend include the scarcity of spare parts for vehicles such as these and the wait times on high-end SUVs from dealerships. “If you walk into a Porsche or Mercedes dealership at the moment, you may have to wait for up to two years for these vehicles.”

Car part shortages in the car industry have been well-documented, and delays in new cars have led to increased prices in the second-hand car market. The delays are due to the lockdowns and factory shutdowns by European car manufacturers during the Covid-19 pandemic when European car manufacturers halted production. These supply chain issues included shipping delays.

Very few of the stolen vehicles are being recovered, causing Stephen to speculate that they may be stolen to order for the Middle East or South American markets or being stripped down and sold off as parts to crash repairers desperate for the supply of parts.

How are vehicles being stolen and what can your clients do to prevent a theft?

Stephen says most commonly, thefts involve the criminals breaking into the victim’s house to steal their car keys, so securing keys is a very effective way to prevent a theft. He advises that rather than being left on the kitchen bench or in a handbag, keys should ideally be secured in a bolted down home safe.

“It could be a minute or two of inconvenience to put the keys in a safe but remember that in the event of a theft, replacement vehicles are taking a very long time to source so it would be a lot more inconvenient for your client to be without their car for an extended period of time,” he says.

However, in the case of organised crime gangs, cars are often stolen without the keys. “Organised crime syndicates will buy high-tech devices on the black market that can identify the numerical sequence required to unlock and start the car. It may have been Hollywood 20 years ago, but that's real life today.”

To help prevent such thefts, Stephen advises policyholders with prestige vehicles not to advertise their ownership. “Don’t leave your car parked on the driveway, put it away in the garage,” he says.

He adds that depending on the circumstances, leaving a car on the driveway or street may lead to a breach of the terms and conditions of the Dawes Motor Insurance Product Disclosure Statements which means a claim may not be accepted for cover. “It’s part of our underwriting criteria to accept a risk based on the vehicle being garaged overnight from 10pm to 5am.”

Other recommended security measures for owners of prestige cars, include having a CCTV system to capture footage outside your house, motion sensors, back-to-base alarms and bollards to prevent driveway access.

First class car insurance with Dawes

At Dawes, we understand the risks and realities of owning prestige or classic cars. Visit our website or call us on 1300 188 299 to learn more about our first-class insurance for first class vehicles.

Dawes Underwriting Australia Pty Ltd t/as Dawes Motor Insurance (ABN 18 050 289 506, AR No. 342982) (Dawes) is an Authorised Representative of SGUAS Pty Limited (ABN 15 096 726 895), AFSL 234437) (SGUAS) and acts for the insurer, Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (ABN 15 000 122 850, AFSL 234708) (Allianz). Consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination available by contacting Dawes on 1300 188 288 or visiting www.dawes.com.au, before deciding if it is right for you.