Less car theft, but Corolla Cross increasingly targeted
Fewer passenger cars were stolen in the first half of 2026, while the ranking of popular targets shifted.
The Netherlands recorded 3,476 stolen passenger cars in the first half of 2026, 9 per cent fewer than a year earlier. The Toyota Corolla Cross was taken most often, with 87 thefts; the Toyota RAV4, the long-standing leader, fell to 82.
The figures come from the half-year report by Stichting Verzekeringsbureau Voertuigcriminaliteit (VbV). According to the report, the total cost of damage from stolen passenger cars fell by 13 per cent to more than €57 million. The average damage per stolen passenger car was €16,489.
The shift between models is more striking than the nationwide decline. According to the figures cited, thefts of the Corolla Cross rose from 51 to 87, an increase of 71 per cent. The Toyota RAV4 from model years 2019 to the present, by contrast, fell from 144 to 82 thefts. Older RAV4 models and the Toyota C-HR were also stolen less often.
Absolute figures do not tell the whole story about the risk to an individual owner. To assess that, the number of thefts must be set against the number of vehicles of a particular model on the road. The VbV report therefore also distinguishes between theft numbers and theft risks by make, model and year of manufacture.
The decline does not apply to every vehicle category. The number of stolen light commercial vehicles fell by 5 per cent to 886, while the number of stolen motorcycles fell by 5 per cent to 887. Moped theft was an exception: 5,368 cases were recorded, 10 per cent more than in the same period of 2025.
Edwin Karelsen, VbV director, says through the industry organisation BOVAG that criminals quickly adapt their targets and methods. That is an interpretation of the shifting figures, not a proven explanation for every individual rise or fall. The report does show, however, that an overall decline does not mean every car model has become less attractive.
The figures are collected from the vehicle and insurance sectors and are therefore not the same as victim surveys. In the CBS Safety Monitor 2025, 0.1 per cent of respondents said they had been victims of car theft. That measurement concerns experienced victimisation among people, whereas VbV counts registered vehicles.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The number of stolen passenger cars fell in the first half of 2026.
- The Corolla Cross topped the ranking of stolen passenger cars.
- VbV and BOVAG point to shifting theft risks.
Left
Arguments The emphasis should be on prevention that is affordable for all car owners and on tackling organised handling of stolen goods, rather than only on individual security products.
Values Equal protection, public safety, and the responsibility of manufacturers and insurers.
Consequences More collective prevention could limit costs for consumers, but would require public funding and stricter agreements across the sector.
Centre
Arguments A combination of registration, certified security, police investigation and co-operation with insurers is the most proportionate approach.
Values Effectiveness, practicality, and a fair distribution of costs and responsibility.
Consequences Targeted measures can reduce risks without imposing the same obligations on every car owner.
Right
Arguments Owners and manufacturers should be held more accountable for security, while the police and the justice system should prioritise professional car thieves and handlers of stolen goods.
Values Property, individual responsibility, and a robust criminal-justice approach.
Consequences More security and enforcement could deter theft, but may lead to higher insurance and purchase costs.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core figures can be found in the VbV report and are independently summarised by BOVAG. The comparison with CBS is explicitly described as using a different measurement method.
- confirmed In the first half of 2026, 3,476 passenger cars were stolen, 9 per cent fewer than a year earlier. — Mentioned in the VbV summary via BOVAG. source
- confirmed The Corolla Cross was the most stolen model, with 87 thefts. — Included in the model ranking in the VbV figures. source
- confirmed The total cost of damage fell by 13 per cent to more than €57 million. — BOVAG quotes the VbV half-year report. source
- confirmed In the CBS Safety Monitor 2025, 0.1 per cent reported having been victims of car theft. — CBS table on victimisation through traditional crime. source
Editor's note
The VbV figures for the first half of 2026 and the shift between models are well supported. The explanation that criminals are adapting is VbV’s interpretation and not a separate causal study.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „autodiefstal toyota corolla cross”
- de Volkskrant — „autodiefstal toyota corolla cross”
- RTL Nieuws — „autodiefstal toyota corolla cross”