Car Thefts in France Reach Alarming Levels with One Stolen Every Four Minutes

SUVs and hybrid vehicles are the primary targets, with Île-de-France leading the regions most affected by this growing crime.

In 2024, more than 140,000 cars were stolen in France, averaging one theft every four minutes, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
Île-de-France recorded the highest car theft rate, with 5.6 thefts per 1,000 vehicles, followed by Hauts-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
SUVs were the most targeted category, accounting for 66% of thefts involving vehicles equipped with Coyote trackers; hybrid cars represented 53% of thefts, a 13% increase from 2023.
94% of thefts were conducted using advanced electronic techniques like mouse jacking and relay attacks, which bypass traditional security systems without causing physical damage.
Coyote's Nano 2.0 tracker helped recover 91% of stolen vehicles within 48 hours, but recovery rates drop significantly after this window due to cross-border trafficking.