Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) may be a popular choice for Australian families, but short-term thieves do not seem so keen.

Sales of the vehicles have increased 44% since 2008, a new report from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council shows. But last year only one in 10 passenger/light commercial vehicles stolen was an SUV – just 5509 thefts.

The “relatively low” rate is largely because there are fewer short-term thefts, the report says.

However, the vehicles are more popular with profit-motivated thieves.

More than half of SUVs stolen for short-term purposes were taken from private homes, while the highest proportion (42%) of those stolen for profit were pinched from the street.

The estimated retail value of SUVs stolen nationally last year was $106 million. “Profit-motivated thieves are taking advantage of this lucrative market segment,” the report said.