Updated: March 2026
There are fewer car thefts in Poland than a few years ago, but the problem hasn’t gone away. According to data compiled by IBRM Samar from the CEPiK vehicle register, 4751 cars and vans up to 6 tonnes were deregistered in Poland in 2025 because of theft. A year earlier the figure was 5327, so the scale of the problem is still shrinking. That’s still thousands of real thefts every year, though, which is why protecting your car against theft in 2026 still makes sense.
It’s worth remembering that CEPiK data and police reports are not the same thing. Samar points out that many months can pass between a theft being reported and the vehicle being deregistered, and some cars enter the statistics later or never appear in CEPiK at all if they were recovered and returned to their owner.
Which car models are stolen most often in Poland
In 2025, the most frequently stolen model in Poland was the Toyota Corolla. It was followed by the Toyota RAV4 and Toyota C-HR. Among vans, the Fiat Ducato and Renault Master also ranked high. Samar concluded that in 2025 thieves most often went for Toyotas and German brands, with Toyota topping the brand ranking for the sixth year in a row.
If you want specific models, the current top five for 2025 looks like this:
- Toyota Corolla – 360 cars
- Toyota RAV4 – 201 cars
- Toyota C-HR – 138 cars
- Fiat Ducato – 96 vehicles
- Renault Master – 84 vehicles
For comparison: in 2024 the Toyota Corolla was also the leader, but the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson were next in line. This shows that the list of the most at-risk models changes from year to year, so it’s not worth basing an article on data from 2022.
The most common car theft methods
The most talked-about method is still the “relay attack”, i.e. intercepting the signal from a keyless key fob. The police explain that the perpetrators use a device that amplifies or intercepts the signal from a key left inside the house, often close to the door or a window. This lets them open and start the car without a conventional break-in.
The second risk is simple carelessness on the owner’s part: leaving documents in the car, not locking the vehicle properly, leaving valuables inside or keeping the keys somewhere easy to reach. In their current guidance, the police still stress that basic user mistakes make life much easier for thieves.
The “relay attack”
The “relay attack” (known in Poland as theft “with a suitcase”) exploits the possibility of intercepting the signal from keyless entry systems – thieves amplify the signal from the car key or key card, which is sitting, for example, in the hallway at home. Bringing a signal amplifier up to the front door makes it possible to open a car parked outside the building or in the garage.
Theft using a key fob or alarm jammer
Theft using a key fob or alarm jammer involves jamming the locking signal sent by the car’s owner, and then stealing the vehicle.
The bottle, leaflet or good-heart trick
The “bottle/leaflet/good heart” trick, meanwhile, covers a whole range of tactics that play on the emotions or inattention of the vehicle’s owner. Thieves seize the moment when someone gets out of the car without switching off the engine, for instance because they’ve noticed a leaflet under the wiper, and jump into their seat, driving off with the car and the keys.
Wheel theft
Wheel theft is the simplest method, because it doesn’t require breaking in. Thieves often steal expensive alloy wheels and sell them on with ease.
How can you minimise the risk of theft?
To reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen, you can follow a few basic rules. First and foremost, don’t leave any valuables in the car, such as a wallet, smartphone or laptop. Thieves act fast and make effective use of an owner’s inattention, and expensive items left in plain sight can be an open invitation.
What’s more – don’t leave your car unlocked, especially with the engine running. Haste and carelessness could cost you your car.
When you park, do so only in safe, well-lit places. Even better if you can find a parking space covered by CCTV or watched over by a security guard.
Remember not to keep your car keys somewhere easy to reach, such as by a window or the front door. And if you have a model with keyless entry, that’s all the more reason not to store the key near the entrance to your home. Best of all, use a Faraday pouch for your keys or a special signal-blocking case.
Which anti-theft protection should you choose for your car?
There is no single safeguard that offers 100% protection. The police still point out, however, that combining several methods makes sense: a car alarm, an immobiliser, a steering wheel or gear lever lock, and a GPS system to locate the vehicle. The more independent obstacles there are, the harder the thief’s job.
A car immobiliser – basic anti-theft protection
One of the more modern systems the market offers is the CAN immobiliser. It doesn’t rely on sending signals, but uses the CAN bus, which allows various electronic devices in the car to be controlled.
An immobiliser lets the owner immobilise any type of vehicle they own – petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric. Nobody but the owner will be able to unlock the vehicle, because disarming it requires entering a code using buttons and stalks inside the car, or with the help of a smartphone or a contactless tag.
A car alarm – is it effective protection for your car?
An alarm doesn’t guarantee protection, but it makes a theft take longer and can put the perpetrator off. In their current advice, the police still list an alarm alongside an immobiliser, mechanical locks and GPS as sensible elements of car protection.
A GPS tracker for your car – modern anti-theft protection
This is a solution that more and more drivers are turning to. It protects the car against theft and also lets you check the vehicle’s position in real time. A GPS tracker is placed somewhere in the car that’s hard to see and hard to reach, so a thief can’t find it. It’s no coincidence that drivers call it hidden car protection.
A device such as notiOne GPS sends its location, determined by satellite; the server then processes this data and sends it to the app on your smartphone, and you see the exact position of the vehicle on the map. A car GPS tracker like this is popular, inexpensive and effective anti-theft protection.
Which protection should you choose in 2026?
The most sensible set-up for 2026 is: good habits + key protection + mechanical or electronic security + a GPS tracker. The data shows there are fewer thefts than there used to be, but the most at-risk regions and models keep coming up. If you have a car with a keyless system, or a model thieves often go for, it’s not worth stopping at the factory-fitted security
