The number of stolen cars that are never recovered is the highest in ten years. According to the police, international criminal networks are responsible for most of the thefts, and the cars are usually moved east. Sweden is the country in Europe that is the second most affected by car theft, only Italy is worse affected.
This year’s car theft barometer from the insurance company IF shows that almost a third of all cars wanted in 2023 were never found. It is mainly international organized crime networks that are responsible for the majority of the thefts. They move the stolen cars east, where the greatest demand is.
Second worst affected
Seen from an international perspective, car crime also stands out in Sweden. According to the EU’s statistics office Eurostat, in 2021 – the most recent year for which comparative figures are available – Sweden had the second highest number of thefts of all or parts of motor vehicles per capita in Europe. Only Italy was worse affected.
– The international crime networks come into Sweden, identify what they want and then take it out. It is easy to take out of the country because we have no controls. And despite the fact that the police are often aware of these criminal persons, they can still return to the country several times without being stopped, says Ann Hassel Tano, head of investigations IF.
Want to restrict access to the car register
In general, however, car thefts in Sweden have decreased in the last ten years, but the number of cars that are never found has thus increased. IF believes, among other things, that limiting the information available in the car register could make it more difficult for the criminal networks. Today it is easy to find owners and addresses of cars that the theft gangs are interested in.
– Then I would like to see cooperation between the authorities such as the coast guard, customs and the police expanded into a developed cooperation with a mission to stop this export, says Ann Hassel Tano.