Insurers report that in the most recent year, only 18 theft claims were registered under comprehensive KASKO insurance policies - a figure that highlights how rare insured vehicle thefts have become compared with previous years. The stolen vehicles mainly involved mass-market and premium brands such as BMW, Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai.
The number of stolen insured cars declined impressively, from 372 in 2017, to 18 last year, which means an over 20 times decrease in 8 years. Theft cases now represent only a marginal share of KASKO claims.
According to insurers, the decline reflects a combination of factors, including improved vehicle security systems, more effective law-enforcement practices and changing criminal behavior. Industry experts also note a shift away from stealing entire vehicles toward theft of individual car parts, such as mirrors, headlights and body components.
While insurers welcome the trend, they caution that vigilance remains essential, as criminals continue to adapt their methods. The Latvian experience mirrors a broader European pattern, where insured car thefts are becoming increasingly rare, even as auto-related crime evolves rather than disappears.
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