Range Rover models were the most stolen vehicles last year, taking the top three spots of cars stolen in 2020.

The Range Rover Sport, which also claimed top spot in 2019, proved the most popular among thieves followed by the Vogue and Autobiography models.

Stolen vehicle recovery firm Tracker has released its most stolen and recovered vehicle data for last year with the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Defender also made the top 10.

The BMW X5 and 3 Series models also made the top five in 2020.

Clive Wain, head of police liaison for Tracker, said: “Range Rover and other Land Rover models have always featured in our top ten most stolen and recovered league table in the last 10 years, as has the BMW X5 which has slipped from 2nd to 4th position in 2020.

“However, most premium 4×4 cars are hot targets, with car thieves stealing to order, often shipping them abroad or stripping them for parts in a chop shop to meet the growing demand for spare parts.”

Tracker’s analysis of how vehicles are stolen shows keyless theft is at an all-time high, accounting for 93 per cent of all recovered vehicles, an increase of 26 per cent in five years.

Thieves use equipment that can boost the signal from a key fob to trick the car into thinking it’s next to the car, which unlocks it. Motorists can avoid this by keeping their keys at the back of the house, far from their parked vehicle, or buying a Faraday cage to store the key, which blocks the signal when not in use.

Wain added: “Keyless car theft has risen dramatically in recent years. It is quick and easy for professional criminals who have the tools and experience.

“Cars are commonly taken from outside of the owners’ house, often discreetly and within minutes, meaning the theft often goes unnoticed for some time.

“We encourage drivers to use traditional visual deterrents such as crook locks and wheel clamps to deter criminals and protect their car, however in the event of a theft, stolen vehicle tracking technology will significantly help police quickly close the net on thieves and return the vehicle to its rightful owner.”