Overview

• Reports say thefts of the model jumped 549% year-on-year in 2024, with more than 580 Hilux pickups stolen across the UK.
• Motoring analysts describe the Hilux as a lucrative target for organised gangs because it can be stripped for parts or shipped overseas quickly.
• Warnings highlight the use of electronic bypass kits, key cloning and relay devices bought online to circumvent security without forced entry.
• Owners are urged to keep keys away from doors and windows to foil relay attacks, park in well‑lit or busy areas, install motion‑sensor lights or CCTV at home, and use visible deterrents such as a steering lock.
• Insurers note a wider pivot toward parts theft, with Admiral reporting parking sensor thefts quadrupled between 2023 and 2024 and thieves increasingly targeting steering wheels.