Nobody wants to come back to the parking lot after a relaxing day out and find out their car is gone.
Vehicle theft is a real worry for many MX-5 Miata owners. It’s disheartening to think that the car you love can be taken away in a moment.
Thankfully, it’s quite uncommon for MX-5 Miatas to be stolen – they’re not super valuable, which makes it an unworthy endeavour for opportunistic thieves and vehicular criminals.
Read on to find out more about the security of your beloved MX-5 Miata: and how you can help to prevent theft.
Are Miatas easy to steal?
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is not a difficult car to steal. A thief with the right tools and some determination could quite easily disable the steering lock, bypass the ignition cylinder and steal a Miata. Thankfully, it’s not a common occurrence.
Here’s the good news: Mazda MX-5 Miatas are not a prime target for car thieves. They are low-value, common vehicles that aren’t very attractive to those looking to make a quick buck.
According to the IIHS, Mazda MX-5 Miatas are amongst the least stolen vehicles in the US.
Plus, parts for the Miata are dirt cheap. For this reason, the beloved roadster isn’t a hot target for chop shops and unscrupulous junkyards.
If you own a Miata with an automatic transmission, this could be viewed as easier to steal than a manual model.
The newest models of the MX-5 Miata are equipped with keyless entry and push-button start. While this does make it more convenient for owners to get in and drive, clever car thieves have developed technologies to capture the signals emitted by your key and use them to steal your car (relay theft).
To put it simply: if someone really wanted to steal your car, they would. You can put lots of obstacles in place to try and prevent it, but if someone is determined enough, they will take it.
Thankfully, Miatas are not particularly sought-after or valuable vehicles.
Are Miatas easy to break into?
Soft-top MX-5 Miatas are not hard to break into. A thief could quite easily cut the convertible roof with a knife or smash the windows to gain access to your cabin and all of its valuables. It’s super important to keep all valuables out of your Miata when parked.
If you’re lucky enough to have a hardtop on your model, the solid fibreglass roof can make it harder for thieves to break into your Miata through the top.
But if a thief spots something valuable in your Miata, there’s nothing stopping them from smashing a window and reaching in to grab your wallet, laptop or smartphone.
How to make your Miata harder to steal
No one wants to wake up to an empty driveway. You can significantly reduce the chances of your Miata being stolen by making it less attractive to thieves. This can be done in lots of different ways:
- Keep all valuables out of your Miata
- Don’t leave the top down when parked
- Install a Thatcham-approved alarm or immobiliser
- Use a steering wheel lock
- Park in a garage or a well-lit area
- Detach your stereo if parked for a long time
Do whatever makes financial and logical sense to you. With the MX-5 Miata being one of the least stolen cars worldwide, you don’t have to go overboard with theft protection:
Some choose to leave the doors unlocked at all times on their MX-5 Miata. If there’s nothing worth stealing inside your car, it beats them slashing your $500 soft-top or breaking a window to gain access instead.
So long as you have fully comprehensive insurance, you’re protected against any harm that may come to your Mazda MX-5 Miata.
If you don’t already have one, purchasing a detachable hardtop for your Miata can improve security. Although a hardtop does make your Miata slightly more secure, owning one comes with its own risks.
Watch out for hardtop theft!
If you’re lucky enough to own a detachable hardtop for your MX-5 Miata, you’ll know about the countless benefits of having one.
Hardtops look awesome. It’s a great way to reduce road noise and lessen the effects of wind in your cabin. It also keeps water and rain from blocking up the soft-top drains, which can be a major cause of MX-5 rust.
Due to their scarcity, there’s a growing market for stolen hardtops. Mazda’s OEM hardtops are becoming rarer and rarer as they’re no longer manufactured by the company.
As a result, the value of used hardtops has almost tripled since 2019. It’s not uncommon to see second-hand Miata hardtops being sold for $800 and above. This makes it a prime target for criminals.
Opportunistic thieves can break into your Miata through the windows and release the hardtop from the latches. Once detached, the hardtop can be bundled into the back of a getaway van and sold online for a quick profit.
The good news is that there are a number of methods you can try to make it harder for thieves to steal your hardtop.
How to prevent Miata hardtop theft
- Install extra security brackets to your hardtop (Like these ones)
- Park your Miata in a garage if you can, or in a well-lit area
- Store your hardtop safely and securely when not in use
- Mark your hardtop with an identifier, like your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), which will make it easier to identify if stolen
- Lock up your Miata when not in use!
Your hardtop should be covered by your comprehensive insurance. If you’re unsure of this, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance provider to check.
Final thoughts
While you will never be able to completely prevent vehicle theft, there are a number of ways that you can make it more difficult for opportunistic thieves.
Opportunistic thieves can spot an easy-to-break-into car from miles away. If your phone or wallet is visible on the seat, you’re practically inviting them in to take it.
If your car looks like it has been taken care of, with no valuables in sight, it becomes a much less attractive option for thieves to interfere with.
Above all, it’s important to note that the Mazda MX-5 Miata is not a commonly stolen vehicle. It’s not very practical, and it’s not very sought-after. For this reason, you shouldn’t worry too much about your pride and joy being taken without your consent. It’s very unlikely to happen.
Do you have any tips for making your Miata harder to steal? Help the community and let us know below!
