Police crime statistics show the annual number of car thefts in the Wellington police district, including Wairarapa, have risen over the last five years, from 1831 in 2009 - a rate of 38.9 per 10,000 people - to 1917 last year, a rate of 39.6 per 10,000 people.
Masterton police road safety manager Sergeant Chris Megaw said stolen cars on Wairarapa roads weren't common.
However, police pulled up a stolen Subaru just days ago in Featherston.
Subaru Legacys were the most popular car among local thieves, followed by Mazda Familias, he said.
And there were usually a few giveaway signs the vehicles didn't belong to drivers.
"Sometimes they have broken quarter light [windows] and they also have their ignitions punched out."
Criminals went for the quarter light windows because they made less noise.
AA Insurance head of customer relations Suzanne Wolton said older cars were easier to steal.
"New Zealand has a large number of ageing, imported cars, and our claims show that older models, which have less-advanced or no security features than newer vehicles, are easy targets for thieves."
Installing an alarm and using a steering lock in full view were effective ways to deter thieves.
"Thieves will always go for the easiest, fastest option, so if you make it just a little bit harder for them then chances are they'll lose interest in your car and move on to an easier target."
One AA Insurance customer had their older model Subaru taken from their driveway, and used in a robbery. Extensive damage to the ignition, as well mechanical, paint and panel damage cost more than $3300 to repair.
Another was at home when burglars broke in and took the keys for her $19,000 Ford Fiesta. They returned the next day and took it while she was upstairs.
Nationally, vehicle thefts have dropped from 21,629 in 2009 - or 50.1 per 10,000 people - to 19,221 last year, or 43 for every 10,000 people.
Cars were most likely to be stolen in Auckland, followed by Northland, Wellington, Waikato and Christchurch.
