Marlborough car thieves prefer upmarket vehicles

Paula Hulburt

AMI Executive General Manager Claims Wayne Tippet says Marlborough has the lowest number of car thefts in the country. Photo: Supplied.

Thieves are bucking the national trend when it comes to stealing cars, with an upmarket Audi coming in as top choice in Marlborough.

The most frequently stolen vehicle in the region is an Audi A4.

It is the only European car to make the top 10 list in regions across the country.

Figures from insurance brokers AMI reveal the top stolen cars for 2024.

For the consecutive year, the Toyota Aqua has claimed the title of New Zealand's most stolen car.

In Nelson, it is the Mazda Demio which takes first place.

AMI Executive General Manager Claims Wayne Tippet says Marlborough has the lowest number of vehicle thefts compared to other regions in the country.

AMI Executive General Manager Claims Wayne Tippet says Marlborough has the lowest number of car thefts in the country. Photo: Supplied.

“While the Audi A4 is the most frequently stolen vehicle, there were six theft claims lodged last year for this vehicle, among a total of 19 claims.

“The majority of these vehicles were recovered and, across the board, 52 per cent of stolen vehicles are repaired and returned to our customers.”

He added the popularity of certain vehicles among drivers in the region can also lead to higher theft claims for those models.

The AMI top 10 stolen cars list by region

1.    Auckland - Toyota Aqua

2. Canterbury - Toyota Aqua

3. Waikato - Nissan Tiida

4. Wellington - Toyota Aqua

5. Bay of Plenty - Mazda Demio

6. Manawatū - Mazda Demio

7. Northland - Toyota Corolla

8. Hawke’s Bay - Mazda Demio

9. Otago - Nissan Tiida

10. Southland - Nissan Tiida

11. Gisborne - Toyota Corolla

12. Taranaki - Toyota Corolla

13. Tasman - Ford Ranger

14. Marlborough - Audi A4

15. West Coast - Nissan Tiida

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