The epidemic of Land Rover Defender thefts | TELEGRAPH CARS

The Land Rover Defender is one of Britain’s most distinctive pieces of design. It went out of production almost two years ago, but it remains both a workhorse and an automotive icon in the UK and around the world. Unfortunately, though, it’s becoming increasingly popular with thieves, as our short film on the rising epidemic of Land Rover thefts demonstrates.

It’s partly a question of supply and demand. No more Land Rover Defenders are being made but demand for them is steady, possibly rising. Their parts, too, are sought-after, not least because Land Rover components need replacing at a higher rate than those of your average Hyundai. Combine that with the relative ease with which older Defenders can be pinched and their popularity in unpoliced rural areas, and you have a serious, nationwide problem.

Owners of these vehicles are advised to keep them locked away in secure areas covered by CCTV and security lighting. Trackers have also been recommended by police, though these sometimes prove useless in practice, and obviously obtain robust insurance coverage for the possibility of theft.

But no amount of money will buy back what is, to many, a highly emotional possession. Land Rovers are often cherished cars, modified and personalised, sometimes handed down from generation to generation. Older Land Rovers are particularly charming, with Series I and II cars kept on the road out of love rather than practicality. When these cars go missing, there’s more at stake than an insurance claim.
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