Organised property crime (OPC) is a significant criminal market affecting virtually all Members States of the European Union. OPC is reportedly being committed by highly mobile organised crime groups, that have been increasingly engaging in forms property crime such as motor vehicle theft (MVT) throughout Europe. At European level, ongoing initiatives are supporting Member States in the fight against OPC. Nonetheless, to date still little is known on the logistical processes of MVT across EU Member States and in Europe as a whole.
Police in the EU recorded on average 697 000 car thefts yearly over the period 2015 to 2017.
Most vehicles are stolen using electronic devices to exploit new technologies, such as keyless entry for relay attacks, to reprogramme the vehicle and disable immobilisers, car alarms and tracking systems.