On an ordinary day last month, Dawit Eshetu, 26, parked his Toyota Hiace minibus half a kilometres from Qechene Medhanialem Church along Dej. Haileselassie Avenue. A taxi driver, he had come home from a long day at work, in a rush to catch some sleep. Yet, he did not forget to pay the regular 20 Br fee to the guys watching the parking area, even finding the time to make some small talk with them.

Dawit was in shock when he woke up the next morning. His car was not where he had left it. Clueless, he thought the watchmen had somehow moved it. That was not to be.

Minutes into his day, he found out his car, worth close to 200,000 Br and a source of his livelihood, had been stolen. For the following two weeks, he could barely sleep. He had reported the theft to the Addis Abeba Police Commission.

"I was frightened," he said. "I kept running the worst-case scenarios through my head."

One of these was probably being held responsible for the theft, as Dawit rented the vehicle he uses as a taxi. It was found later in Bishoftu (Debrezeit) town, 45Km away from where he had parked it. When the police finally tracked it down, it had all its four wheels and dashboard missing.

There were 211 cars stolen in 2020, showing a 17pc drop from the previous year, according to data from the Police Commission.

Addis Abeba has its residents and officials priding themselves for its safety. However, crime is on the rise. Petty theft, including mugging and pickpocketing, has increased noticeably. According to reports from the city's Police Commission, the culprits often work in groups and rely on distraction techniques, while the individuals involved are usually young men and teenage boys.

The theft of vehicle parts is among the most common reports the Organised Crime Investigation Division of the Police Commission receives from 60 police stations across the city. A lack of secure parking spaces and organised parking service providers are major reasons for the rise in car theft, according to its Commander, Alemayehu Ayalqe.

Ride-hailing services have been the main victims of armed and unarmed robbery. But curbing the crimes is made difficult by a lack of follow-through from victims, says the Commander.

"Victims don't always come to the police," said Alemayhu.

Addis Ketema, Bole and Yeka are the most exposed to car thefts among the 11 districts in the capital, with almost a quarter of a million automobiles. The destination for most stolen cars is neighbouring towns, particularly Bishoftu, Legetafo and Sululta. In most cases, when the police discover the whereabouts of the vehicles, they are found with missing parts.

Last year, of the stolen cars that were recovered, 102 were found with missing parts. In the worst cases, robbers allegedly buy counterfeit plates or repaint the vehicles, oftentimes attempting to smuggle them across the border. Old cars, particularly those manufactured in the 1980s and 90s, are frequent targets as they lack electronic immobilisers that reduce the risk of vehicles being stolen. Particularly, Toyota Corolla and DX models, manufactured between 1987 and 1991 and a common sight in the capital before the explosion of Vitz models, are easy prey for thieves.

The Toyota Hiace models such as the one Dawit drives are among the prefered types.

Car theft is rising against a backdrop where buying a car remains a daunting task for many Ethiopians. Old vehicles models such as the 1987 Toyota Corolla are sold for as much as 400,000 Br, twice the market price two years ago. The same is true for relatively newer models, like the Vitz and Yaris. The cost of either, if they are in good condition, is almost nearing one million Birr, showing almost a 50pc upsurge during the same period.

Rising theft incidents and the skyrocketing cost of vehicles have made car-owners vigilant about the safety of their property. It has led to the emergence of a market catering to the needs of those looking to keep their property safe.

One of those involved in the trade is Mikiyas Yitagesu, running a car decor store around the Sebara Babur neighbourhood. He offers anti-theft devices such as GPS trackers, pedals and engine lockers. He does not see customers come in to buy them very often, but when they do, it is more often people who own newer models.