Organised property crime is pervasive across all EU Member States, demanding immediate and collective action. Motor vehicle crime, encompassing vehicle theft and the fencing of stolen vehicle parts, is a particularly lucrative form of organised property crime. Despite its decline in the last decade, the overall prevalence of motor vehicle crime remains alarmingly high in the EU.

The current report provides an in-depth examination of motor vehicle theft trends within five EU countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. These case studies build on the widely recognised barrier model to provide valuable insights for preventing and combatting this form of criminal activity by engaging institutions, businesses, and citizens.