Vehicle thefts soared by a third last year, despite two national lockdowns resulting in fewer drivers on the road.
In total, there were 74,769 recorded robberies - marking a 33% jump on the year before, according to Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) figures.
The report found the Ford Fiesta was the most targeted model in Britain - with 3,392 vehicles reported missing last year.
However, this may come as no surprise, given the Fiesta has been the most-registered vehicle in the UK for the past 12 years running.
Even so, the disclosed records show that 1,008 more Fiestas were pinched last year than the 12 months prior.
Around 2,881 SUVs were also reported stolen - up 50% on 2019 - as opportunistic criminals targeted high-value vehicles with smart keyless technology.
The Range Rover was the second most stolen car in 2020, with 2,881 thefts recorded.
Next most common were the Fiat Ducato and Ford Transit, with thieves also likely to be going after expensive tools locked inside.
Other cars most likely to be stolen include the VW Golf, Vauxhall Astra and Nissan Qashqai.
The DVLA figures provided to Rivervale Leasing also revealed the volume of thefts of ultra-expensive and rare models.
For instance, five Ferraris, eight Lamborghinis and one McLaren were pinched in 2020, according to records held by the government agency.
Also in the list was six Aston Martins, 20 Bentleys and eight Rolls-Royces.
Incredibly, the records also show that 101 John Deere vehicles - including tractors, buggies and ride-on lawnmowers - were pinched in the previous 12 months.
According to the most recent Office for National Statistics report on vehicle-related theft, 72% of stolen cars will never return to their owners.
Last year's return rate of 28% is the lowest for a decade, the ONS stats say.
Staying safe
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) have shared their top 3 tips to protecting your car below:
- Park your car in a well-lit area
- Keep car keys well away from external doors or windows
- Turn off the signal overnight or keep the keys in a signal block pouch
15 most stolen car models in 2020 - is yours on the list?
1. Ford Fiesta - 3,392
2. Land Rover Range Rover - 2,881
3. Volkswagen Golf - 1,975
4. Ford Focus - 1,587
5. BMW 3 Series - 1,435
6. Vauxhall Astra - 1,126
7. Land Rover Discovery - 900
8. Mercedes-Benz E Class - 766
9. BMW 5 Series - 678
10. Nissan Qashqai - 655
11. Ford Kuga - 620
12. BMW X5 - 551
13. Fiat 500 - 358
14. Mercedes-Benz GLC - 342
15. Audi A6 - 268
