To joyride is to drive around in a stolen car, boat, or other vehicle with no particular goal, a ride taken solely for pleasure.
In English law[1], joyriding is not considered to be theft, because the intention to "permanently deprive" the owner of the vehicle cannot be proven. Instead, a separate offence of "taking without consent", usually known by the acronym TWOC, applies to motor vehicles. Therefore "twoccing" or "twocking" is another term for joyriding. In Ireland, joyriding is a common crime and many people have campaigned against it. During The Troubles, paramilitaries such as the Provisional IRA administered extralegal punishment to joyriders, usually consisting of breaking their fingers and/or kneecaps, thus rendering them unable to operate a vehicle again.
In Wisconsin[2], joyriding is a misdemeanor that implies the car was returned undamaged within 24 hours.
Joyriding in the UK is the theft of a vehicle, which is then driven leisurely until it runs out of fuel or is damaged beyond repair. The vehicle is often set on fire after it has been dumped. Joyriders are often below the legal driving limit or lack driving license; due to this, the vehicle is often driven in a reckless fashion causing damage to the vehicle resulting in an insurance write-off.
Joyriders often choose cars that are older; with much less security, these cars are easy targets.
Joyriders often gain access to a locked car with just a flathead screwdriver, although modern cars have systems to prevent a screwdriver opening locks. In cars manufactured before the mid-1990s, locks were very weak and could be opened easily. The vehicle is started by either hotwiring or breaking the ignition lock. Ignition systems were much less sophisticated before the mid-1990s and easier to bypass. The vehicle is often driven through rural areas to avoid police pursuit, and when the vehicle is exhausted of fuel or damaged, it is dumped. After the vehicle has been dumped it is often set on fire to remove any fingerprints or other evidence.
In 2005 The Home Office conducted a survey to find out the most stolen cars per registered in the UK:
In 2009 The Home Office conducted a new survey and found out the most stolen cars (per registered) were as follows:
In the USA the most stolen cars in 2007 (per registered) were: