Such data was published by the state service Opendatamedia, which deals with providing open data.
As noted in the report, a significant increase in the number of car thefts was recorded in 2014 — then the figure almost doubled and amounted to 12.6 thousand cases. In 2015 and 2016, this trend continued, but since 2017 the number of thefts began to decrease — this happened against the background of a general decline in the crime rate. According to the results of 2020, "only" 4,522 vehicles were stolen in the country.
Opendatamedia noted that after such a large-scale wave of car thefts, Ukraine has again reached the indicators typical of the early 2010s. If the current dynamics continue, then according to the results of 2021, this indicator should be even lower than in previous years.
It is obvious that several circumstances at once influenced the decrease in statistics. Among them is the tightening of punishment for car theft. Since 2020, fines have ceased to be imposed for such crimes, leaving only restriction of liberty or imprisonment, and the terms have become more severe. Thus, for stealing a car alone, restriction or imprisonment for a term of 3 to 5 years is provided, and if the crime is committed by a group of persons or with the use of violence — from 8 to 12 years. In addition, the approach to determining the severity of the offense has changed. Previously, the cost of the damage caused was taken as a basis, now it is the cost of the vehicle itself. For forgery or re-stamping of body and engine numbers, punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 5 years was introduced, and for organizing the so-called "black service stations" engaged in dismantling stolen cars — from 5 to 7 years.
