The Land Rover Defender has entered the Top 10 Most Stolen and Recovered league table for the first time, according to the latest figures from Tracker.

The study reveals a 57% increase in the number of Land Rover Defender thefts from 2015 to 2016, confirming a rise in demand since its production stopped in January of last year.

Andy Barrs, head of Police liaison at Tracker, said: “The fact that we have seen the number of Defender thefts double this year compared to 2015 shows just how popular these cars have become, particularly since they are no longer in production, making them a major target for organised car thieves.

“Additionally, Land Rover Defenders are popular second cars meaning they are often parked on driveways or stored in garages most of the time, making them sitting targets for thieves.”

Police in Essex recently assisted Tracker in the successful recovery of a stolen Land Rover Defender in just four hours after it was taken from the owner’s driveway. A tracking device meant police were able to locate the vehicle very quickly.