Is my BMW 1 Series at risk of theft?
Yes. The 1 Series was fifteenth, making it the second BMW in the top 20 after the 3 Series.
- Stolen in 2025
- 754
- UK model ranking
- 15 of 20
- One theft every
- 12 hours
- Share of BMW thefts
- 14%
BMW 1 Series thefts in context
754 BMW 1 Seriess went missing in 2025: one every 12 hours, or 1.4% of the UK total of 54,830. Of 5,489 BMW cars stolen, 14% were this model. Next up the table: Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 826.
Which BMW 1 Seriess are being taken
No model-year split was published for the BMW 1 Series, and we will not guess one.
Why thieves pick the BMW 1 Series
The 1 Series brings the BMW badge to a smaller and more affordable hatchback, so many are parked on residential streets rather than in garages.
What Car? did not publish a year-by-year split for the 1 Series. BMW's high brand total of 5,489 thefts shows how attractive the badge is across the range.
Like other BMWs, many 1 Series cars have comfort access keyless entry, and the high brand total suggests thieves are working across the whole BMW range.
Check your own BMW 1 Series
Most recent 1 Series cars can be set to stop the comfort access system when you do not need it. Look in the vehicle settings, and if your car has a digital key on your phone, review which devices still have access.
Dual layer protection for your BMW 1 Series
Layer one: stop it leaving
An aftermarket immobiliser that asks for a code or tag before the car drives is the first layer. For a keyless 1 Series, switch keyless entry off if you can and keep the key in a pouch.
Layer two: get it back
A tracker with app alerts is a good fit for a 1 Series, and some insurers offer better terms when one is fitted. Check what your insurer accepts.
Read more
Habits that lower the risk
- Avoid parking a modified or high-spec car in the same visible spot every night.
- Do not post your car's plate and home location together on social media.
- Keep spare keys locked away.
Local police figures
Police data has no make or model field, so it cannot count BMW 1 Series thefts locally. As an example of local pressure, West Yorkshire Police logged 757 vehicle crimes within a mile of Leeds in the year to September 2026. Leeds figures · other towns
BMW 1 Series theft questions
How many BMW 1 Series cars were stolen in 2025?
754, which ranked it fifteenth and made it the second BMW in the top 20.
Is a BMW 1 Series expensive to insure because of theft?
Theft risk is one factor among many. Fitting dual layer protection shows an insurer you have reduced it.
Protect your BMW 1 Series
Send us its year and your postcode for our best fitted price. Get my BMW 1 Series quote →
BMW 1 Series figures: DVLA 2025 records (FOI) via What Car?; police.uk. Checked 6 November 2026. All models. Trademarks belong to their owners.