Maruti Swift: Five most stolen cars in India and why thieves love them: Maruti Swift, Hyundai Creta and more

Buying a car is one of the most expensive purchases an individual makes. Out of these big purchases, it’s also the easiest to steal. Despite cameras, anti-theft devices and sensors thieves steal the cars for the components and money. According to a recent report, Delhi-NCR is responsible for more than 56 per cent of vehicle thefts nationwide. Approximately more than 1 lakh vehicles are stolen in India every year, in this article let’s take a look at the top five most stolen cars in India.
1. Maruti Suzuki Swift
The Maruti Suzuki Swift clocks in as the number one most stolen car in India. A popular pick for car thieves across the nation, owners of the Swift should take steps to protect their cars when they’re not around. The Maruti Suzuki Swift was launched back in 2005 and it has been one of the top-selling cars in its segment. The fuel efficiency, looks, affordability, and high-resale value make the Swift one of the popular models in the country.

The Swift is powered by a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder, NA petrol engine and it comes paired with a 5-speed manual or an AMT automatic. The price for the hatchback starts from Rs 5.99 lakh and goes up to 9.04 lakh (ex-showroom).
2. Maruti Suzuki WagonR
Coming in second on this list, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR trails closely behind the Maruti Swift for the most thefts in India. The WagonR is one of the highest-selling models in the Maruti Suzuki stable and is the preferred choice for families in India. The WagonR gets two engine options – a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, NA petrol engine and a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder, NA petrol engine. The engine comes paired with a 5-speed manual or an AMT automatic. The price for the WagonR starts from Rs 5.54 lakh and goes up to 7.42 lakh (ex-showroom).

3. Hyundai Creta
The Hyundai Creta is one of the best-selling SUVs in India, so it’s no surprise that they’re also the third most stolen vehicle in the country. The Creta is stolen not for resale, but for spares that are always in demand and are expensive. The Hyundai Creta gets two engine options – a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder NA petrol engine and a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo diesel engine. Both engines come paired with a manual or automatic transmission option. The price for the Hyundai Creta starts from Rs 10.87 lakh and goes up to 19.2 lakh (ex-showroom).

4. Hyundai Santro
Another Hyundai on the list is the Hyundai Santro. The Hyundai Santro was one of the most affordable and premium small cars offered by Hyundai in India, it was discontinued due to poor sales. Just like Creta, Santro is stolen not only for resale but for spares that are always in demand due to the discontinuation of the vehicle.

5. Honda City
Taking the fifth spot on this list, the Honda City is a common target for thieves in India. The Honda City is the highest-selling Honda model in the country and was launched in India back in the 90s. The Honda City gets two engine options – a 1.5-litre, NA petrol and a 1.5-litre strong hybrid petrol engine. The price for the sedan starts from Rs 11.67 lakh and goes up to 16.15 lakh (both prices Ex-showroom).

So why do thieves love stealing these cars?
The Maruti Swift, WagonR, Hyundai Creta, Santro and Honda City are the highest-selling and most popular models available in India. They sell in big numbers and they are visible on roads at any given point in time. These factors make it easier to blend in while stealing the vehicle and escaping. It’s also easy to change the registration and other details and sell the vehicles in various parts of the country. If a rare vehicle is stolen, it’s easier to be spotted and caught but for popular vehicles, it’s hard to find.

A recent report also revealed that white cars are more vulnerable to theft. The reason for this is, that white coloured cars are very easy to blend in and it’s easier to paint white cars in a different colour to change their appearance.