The number of wanted cars is increasing – for the first time in 20 years

The number of wanted passenger cars is increasing for the first time in over 20 years, according to figures from the industry organization Larmtjänst.
A trend linked to gang crime.
– When we increase the punishment for weapons and drug crimes, it means a greater risk for them, then this can be another way for them to make money, says Monica Krüger, who is the coordinator of the border police in the Stockholm region.

The new technology that made it impossible to steal caused the number of car thefts to decrease every year. But now an increase is noticeable again, show statistics from the industry organization Larmtjänst.

Between January 1 this year and September 30, 4,661 passenger cars were called for, which can be compared with 4,577 during the same period last year.

– On the one hand, we have the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia, which create a demand for these cars and criminal networks take advantage of it. But we also have Swedish criminal networks that are increasingly starting to use vehicle crime as a source of funding and also to cover their own transport needs, says Mats Galvenius, CEO of Larmtjänst.

New tool

According to the border police, the criminal networks have found tools that make it possible to steal a car in 1.5 minutes – without the slightest trace. The vehicle is then sold on.

– It is perhaps so that they can buy in larger quantities of drugs and make money that way. If we catch them when they’ve stolen a car, we’ll probably also crack down on another type of crime, says Monica Krüger.

To reverse the trend, the insurance companies’ joint organization Alarm Service now wants to see that the most vulnerable car manufacturers improve theft protection – but also calls for more police force.

– Now they spend all their time on explosions and shootings and that is important. But you also have to have the perspective: if you approach vehicle crime, it also helps against gang crime, says Mats Galvenius.