The humble Ford Transit has topped the list of the UK’s most-stolen vans, according to a new data pull from business van finance providers Anglo Scottish.
Anglo Scottish tells us…
(Photograph and all words from Anglo Scottish).
In a new dataset obtained via FOI request, Anglo Scottish can reveal that the Ford Transit topped the list of the UK’s most-stolen vans in 2024, 2025 and between January and July 2026. In all three calendar years, the Transit led the way by some distance, accounting for at least 50% of all reported van thefts.
| Year | Total Reported Van Thefts | Reported Ford Transit Thefts |
| 2024 | 11,393 | 5,910 |
| 2025 | 9,585 | 5,043 |
| 2026 (1 Jan – 31 July) | 5,137 | 2,778 |
Why is the Transit so popular?
For starters, the Ford Transit is the most-popular van in the country, according to the RAC, with 42,885 registrations of either a Ford Transit Custom or the standard model in 2026 alone. The standard Transit is a larger, heavy-duty work van, while the Custom model is smaller, medium-sized and more suited to lighter loads.
Between the Custom and standard models, there are plenty of variants, too, with the DVLA data reporting 305 different versions of the model being stolen so far in 2026. These vary according to the vehicle’s engine size, maximum payload and electric integration, with plug-in hybrid versions and four- and rear-wheel drive options available.
Tradespeople across a huge range of disciplines praise the Transit’s reliability – and it’s this feature that has made it such a popular fleet vehicle, contributing further to the Transit’s notoriety. Add low ownership costs and simple, widespread, easy servicing, and you’ve got a perfect vehicle for at-scale fleet operators.
It’s also got some well-known security risks, which thieves share between each other to target the roads’ most-popular vans.
Which other vehicles are at risk?
The Transit leads the way by some distance – thanks to its practicality, affordability and customisability. Between January and July 2026, it has accounted for over 50% of all vans stolen in the UK with 2,776 reported thefts at the time of data pull.
Nothing else comes particularly close – but the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (and all of its own variants) clocks in at second, with 493 thefts reported this year. That’s 9.5% of all reported thefts.
Following close behind are the Peugeot Boxer (210 thefts this year) and the Citroen Relay (171 thefts this year). However, Transit thefts outnumber its three nearest models combined, by some distance. It makes sense that the UK’s most-popular van is the most-stolen.
How can van owners protect themselves?
Thankfully, there are plenty of routes that van owners and operators can take to upgrade their security measures. One is the addition of physical deterrents like steering locks or pedal clamps, to prevent would-be thieves from being able to drive their van away easily.
Meanwhile, many Transit owners choose to reinforce their van’s vulnerable side panels with internal shielding. Upgraded door locks and anti-peel brackets can also help prevent criminals from peeling back your van’s side or rear doors.
Technological actions, like disabling keyless entry (on newer vans), can mitigate the risk of relay attacks, while GPS tracking can be added to provide additional protection in the event that thieves actually manage to escape with your van.
So, what’s the good news?
Well, the bright side for the UK’s van owners is that the number of recorded van thefts seems to be on the decline.
The data revealed that reported van thefts fell by 15% between 2024 and 2025, with total thefts dropping from 11,393 to 9,585. And, between January and July 2026, the most-recent month on record at the time of request, there was a reported 5,137 thefts, or 733 a month. Over a year, that translates to a total of 8,806: a further 8% year-on-year drop!
That’s no reason to rest on your laurels, however. If you’re the owner or operator of a van, it’s always worth investing in security measures to protect your van. Especially if it’s a Transit!
Note: Dataset provided the number of vans reported to DVLA as stolen, broken down by make, model description, the month and year the stolen marker was recorded, for 2024, 2025 and 1 January to 31 July 2026. Dataset was correct on 4 August 2026.
Anglo Scottish van finace information: https://www.angloscottishfinance.co.uk/vehicle-finance/van-finance/