The number of car thefts has increased significantly in the first half of this year. Criminals are using increasingly smarter and more sophisticated methods, according to the Vehicle Crime Insurance Bureau Foundation (VbV).
In the first six months of 2025, 3,645 passenger cars were stolen in the Netherlands. That is more than 20 percent more than in the same period last year. The number of stolen company cars and motorcycles also increased.
The total damage now amounts to around 64 million euros, reports the VbV Foundation. That is an increase of 60 percent.
Eindhoven stands out with an almost fivefold increase in car thefts. Utrecht and The Hague were also hit hard in the past six months. The number of thefts doubled in Utrecht and increased by no less than 70 percent in The Hague. Amsterdam, on the other hand, shows a decrease of 30 percent, especially for motorcycles and company cars.
The Toyota RAV4, like last year, is the most popular among car thieves, with 232 stolen copies. The Kia Sportage has seen a striking increase: the number of thefts increased from 19 to 82.
Finding them is becoming easier
“Car thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so prevention is more important than ever,” says director Edwin Karelsen of the VbV Foundation. According to him, the chance of catching car thieves can be increased if both individuals and companies equip their cars with a good security system.
Modern technology plays an increasingly important role in finding stolen cars, according to the VbV Foundation. Some manufacturers can track vehicles remotely. This often makes it possible to see fairly precisely where a stolen car is located.
If that is abroad, it is anything but easy to get the vehicle back. Of the recovered stolen cars, most were located within the national borders: 90 percent of the vehicles found this year reappeared in the Netherlands. Other cars were found in countries such as Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria and Poland.