Defender thefts

Stole this post from Pistonheads - I know it's not specifically evoques, but there are a number of defender owners on here too.

Be vigilant!:

pistonheads Wrote:I had this sent earlier today, might be worth taking extra care:


Owners of Landrover Defenders are being warned to remain vigilant following a series of thefts across Surrey and the surrounding area since January.
Officers are currently investigating more than 20 reports of thefts of Landrover Defenders, with mostly older models being targeted, in particular 1990-2005 models of the 90 and 110 type.
Vehicles have been stolen from across the county, including Cranleigh, Staines, Farnham, Dorking, Witley, Alfold, Frimley Green, Ewhurst, Tadworth and Mytchett. Officers are also investigating a number of other thefts in Thames Valley, Sussex and Hampshire.
Investigating Officer Detective Constable Kerry Whindle said: "We are currently investigating 23 offences and it is clear that these vehicles are being specifically targeted. We have also established that these vehicle thieves are mostly targeting older models which are not fitted with immobilisers.
"I would urge owners of these vehicles to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity relating to their vehicles. Can I also recommend that owners consider additional security measures for their vehicles, including steering or pedal box locks, alarms, immobilisers, hidden battery isolator switches or even something as simple as blocking your Defender with another car on the driveway.”
DC Whindle added: "We are carrying out a full investigation into these thefts and hope that by reminding owners of Landrover Defenders of some basic crime prevention advice that we may be able to prevent further offences from taking place. I am also appealing to anyone with any information about any of these thefts to come forward straightaway.”
Thefts include:
10-11 May Theft of a green Landrover Defender from Waterhouse Lane Tadworth;
8-9 May Theft of a green Landrover Defender from The Village, Ewhurst;
8-9 May Theft of a blue Landrover Defender from Buckhurst Road, Frimley Green;
2 May Theft of a red Landrover Defender from Andover, Hampshire;
24 April Theft of a white Landrover Defender from Tadley, Hampshire;
22-23 April Theft of a silver Landrover Defender from Dunsfold Road, Alfold, recovered in Bramley;
20 April Theft of a blue Landrover Defender from Etchingham, Sussex;
17 April Theft of a white Landrover Defender from Upper Beeding, Sussex;
17 April Theft of a green Landrover Defender from Aylesbury, Thames Valley;
14 April Theft of a red Landrover Defender from Salisbury Terrace, Mytchett;
13-14 April Theft of a green Landrover Defender from Horsham, Sussex;
7 April Theft of a white Landrover Defender from Framfield, Sussex;
29 March Theft of a white Landrover Defender from Hastings, Sussex;
26 March Theft of a red Landrover Defender from Wokingham, Berkshire;
20 March Theft of a red Landrover Defender from Woolton Hill, Hampshire;
8 March Theft of a blue Landrover Defender from Lewes, Sussex;
8 March Theft of a Landrover Defender from Oxford;
29-30 January Theft of a green Landrover Defender from Petworth Road, Witley;
22 January Theft of a blue Landrover Defender from Westcott Heath, Dorking;
21-22 January Theft of a Landrover Defender from West Street, Farnham;
20-21 January Theft of a green Landrover Discovery from Cranleigh, recovered in Cranleigh;
18-21 January Theft of a blue Landrover Defender from Horton Road, Staines.

Just read this article on Car and Driver's site a few days ago:

Feds Declare War on Black-Market Land Rover Defenders

Most stolen here seem to end up in Asia and Eastern Europe or just broken up for the parts that are then shipped to those markets where getting spares is hard and the profits even higher. Around here it seems to be the more modern Range Rovers /RRS and Disco 3 -4 that get targeted - I had an attempt to steal my last FFRR in 2011 but prior to that I had police visits on two occasions to warn me that there had been a number of thefts of RR's. They usually took one look at mine which was an unusual colour and told me it was mostly Black, Grey and Silver cars that were stolen as they blend in easily. I have recently been warned to watch the Evoque, however again it is Grey, Silver and Black that seem to be the colours that are targeted.

I have a black Puma Defender and everyday I wake up and check that it's still there. I live in Staffordshire which is one of the hot spots for Defender thefts. As I've got a Puma, I've also got the bonnet to think about too as that's another hot stolen item in Staffordshire.

Yes, a Puma bonnet seems to becoming a favourite modification for Tdi and Td5 Defenders, saw a couple at an offroad day last Sunday and did a double take!