The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) has successfully prevented the theft and facilitated the return of 320 stolen financed vehicles across Europe since 2021, with significant support from HPI Check data.
Funded by the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA), NaVCIS is a UK national police unit dedicated to recovering stolen financed vehicles. Their operations have spanned across Europe, with Romania and Bulgaria emerging as primary destination markets for these stolen vehicles.
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Thieves often acquire these vehicles through fraudulent means, either by obtaining finance in their own name and defaulting on payments or using false identities.
The NaVCIS team has managed to locate and return vehicles worth £9.6 million, with 60% of this value recovered from Romania and Bulgaria alone. HPI Check supports NaVCIS by providing vital vehicle data, which is shared with European law enforcement agencies to aid in the identification of stolen vehicles.
Re-registration centres across Europe depend on HPI Check to identify stolen UK finance vehicles. NaVCIS reports that criminal gangs frequently utilise hire purchase agreements to obtain vehicles, subsequently fitting them with false plates before defaulting on payments. These vehicles often leave the UK via ferries, shipping containers, and the Channel Tunnel.
When re-registered in their destination countries, the data and intelligence provided by NaVCIS and HPI Check enable the identification and seizure of stolen vehicles, which are then returned to UK finance companies. NaVCIS conducts operations to detect, deter, and disrupt serious organised crime, emphasising the importance of intelligence sharing between UK and overseas law enforcement agencies in combating vehicle finance crime.
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By GlobalDataSharon Naughton, head of NaVCIS, said: “These are complex crimes operating across international borders, and it requires the tireless work of the NaVCIS team of experts, alongside partners across Europe, to identify and seize these vehicles. Our data partnership with HPI is essential to the process, which is time-critical to prevent onward transit of stolen cars, reducing opportunities for seizure and allowing vehicles to be checked for outstanding finance, theft, and a wide range of other factors.”
The scheme has garnered interest from additional foreign police services looking to cooperate with NaVCIS. HPI, part of the global automotive data company Solera, has committed to supporting the expansion of these efforts to track down and secure stolen vehicles.
Jon Clay, Data Director (Identification) at HPI, added: “Advanced technology ensures that our data is updated in real-time, and we’re pleased to support the vital work undertaken by NaVCIS. An HPI Check helps motorists establish if a car has been reported stolen or has outstanding finance, alongside discrepancies, such as accident data or mileage tampering. By building up a comprehensive vehicle history, any discrepancies are highlighted, giving car buyers the information they need to purchase a vehicle with confidence.”
