Most-stolen Toyota Aqua: Christchurch driver left carless after fourth theft

A Christchurch woman has been left without a car after thieves targeted the same vehicle four times in three years.

A Christchurch woman has been left without a car after thieves targeted her beloved 2014 Toyota Aqua four times in three years, with the latest incident rendering it beyond repair.

Archna Tandon’s Aqua was most recently stolen after 10pm on Good Friday and later found abandoned in the suburb of Hornby.

The car was damaged by the most recent theft in early April. Photo / Supplied

It was the fourth time the car had been taken from outside her home since October 2022.

Tandon said the first two times the car was stolen, it was recovered abandoned.

On the third occasion, police stopped the vehicle in the township of Lincoln and arrested the youths inside.

“All those times it was just the ignition, they took it for a run and most of the time they left it when the petrol ran out,” Tandon said.

Damage to the car after it was taken for a fourth time has left it a write-off. Photo / Supplied

But the fourth theft proved more destructive.

“The tyres and the rims are all flattened, and the right side of the car is all damaged and dented. It’s a write-off this time.”

Tandon said each theft had taken a financial toll, with repeated insurance excess payments and rising premiums adding to the frustration.

“In all instances, we had to pay excess and obviously, the premium went up,” she said.

Archna Tandon says each theft has taken a financial toll because of repeated insurance excess payments. Photo / Supplied

The Toyota Aqua has topped Aotearoa’s most-stolen car list for the fourth consecutive year, making it a frequent target for offenders.

Figures released by AMI show the hybrid hatchback accounted for 8% of all stolen vehicle insurance claims in 2025.

The model is stolen at a disproportionately high rate, with 54 claims per 1000 insured vehicles, nearly four times higher than the Toyota Corolla, which recorded 15 per 1000.

After four thefts, Tandon said her next vehicle will need better security and a safer place to park.

“We have made space in the garage now – it’s going to go in the garage.”

Police said they had located the offenders in two out of the four incidents.

“However, in this latest one, it appears there is currently no evidence to enable us to identify the offenders,” a police spokesperson said.

“If anyone did have information which might help, we would ask they contact police via 105 and quote file number 260405/6051.”

They said to prevent thefts, people should ensure their vehicle is locked and parked off the road, out of sight, or in secure car parking where possible.

Vehicle alarms, immobilisers and steering wheel locks were also recommended.

“In addition, please ensure valuables and credit cards are removed from vehicles, particularly if cars are parked in the open.”