A drive assembly for driving a moveable component of a vehicle in which the component can adopt one or more positions in which the component prevents access to the vehicle or a part of the vehicle. The drive assembly has an actuator which is coupled to the component and provides the force for moving the component, and a control unit for actuating the actuator. In an emergency operating mode, the actuator can move freely in at least one direction, in such a manner that the actuator allows movement of the component caused by an external force being exerted on the component other than by means of the actuator, preferably by hand. The drive assembly is also provided with a theft detection unit for detecting theft or attempted theft of the vehicle or of goods which are present in the vehicle. The theft detection unit is coupled to the control unit. The drive assembly is designed so that if the assembly is in the emergency operating mode and the moveable component is in a position in which the component prevents access to the vehicle or a part of the vehicle, and then the theft detection unit detects theft or attempted theft, the emergency operating mode of the drive assembly is cancelled, and the drive assembly is then moved into a blocking mode, in which free mobility of the actuator is cancelled and the actuator blocks movement of the component caused by an external force being exerted on the component.