Ituran Report: Vehicle Thefts in Israel Drop 3% in First Half of 2025

A new report by Ituran, based on a nationwide sample of 935,000 vehicles, reveals a 3% decrease in vehicle thefts across Israel in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The drop is attributed to heightened security operations during the war with Iran and increased IDF activity in Judea and Samaria.

During the 12-day war with Iran, vehicle thefts plummeted by 35%, marking the most significant short-term decline in recent years.

Key Factors Behind Theft Reduction

According to Ituran, the drop in thefts during the conflict was largely due to:

• Intensified nationwide security operations

• Heavy IDF and police presence in Israeli cities

• Highway closures leading to Palestinian Authority (PA) areas, disrupting common car-smuggling routes

320 Car Theft Gangs Arrested: NIS 1.74 Billion Saved

Ituran CEO Nir Sharatsky noted that the company played a direct role in the real-time arrest of 320 car theft gangs in the first half of the year, a move that helped save the Israeli economy an estimated NIS 1.74 billion in damages.

“Arresting these gangs not only helped prevent further thefts, but significantly disrupted ongoing criminal operations that cost the economy dearly,” Sharatsky said.

Teenage Car Thieves on the Rise

For the first time in three years, Ituran also conducted a demographic analysis of suspected car thieves. The surprising result: most of the thieves are under 17 years old, and about 80% of them do not possess a driver’s license.

Tel Aviv and the Dan Bloc Remain Theft Hotspots

Analysis of regional trends shows that Tel Aviv and the Dan Bloc accounted for 50% of all vehicle thefts in the country. The Sharon region followed with 18%, and the rest was divided among the southern region (9%), Shefela (10%), Jerusalem and Modi’in (9%), the north (3%), and Judea and Samaria (1%).

Highway 443 remains a critical corridor for smuggling stolen vehicles, with 60% of Dan Bloc thefts passing through to Ramallah and other PA areas.

Preferred Vehicle Types and Colors

The most targeted vehicles in early 2025 were:

• Jeeps and SUV-type vehicles – 50%

• Private cars – 30%

• Motorcycles – 15%

• Commercial/light trucks and heavy trucks – 3% combined

The top vehicle colors stolen:

• White – 42%

• Black and Gray – 16% each

• Silver – 6%

• Blue – 3%

Theft Techniques and Timing

Ituran’s data shows 64% of thefts were executed using OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) socket hacking. Other methods included:

• Theft using original keys (14%)

• Violent break-ins (10%)

• Towing or vehicle loading (12%)

The most common time for thefts was between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m., with Tuesdays and Wednesdays identified as peak days.

What Happens to Stolen Vehicles?

According to the report, 50% of stolen vehicles were dismantled and sold for spare parts, while the other 50% were resold in Israel or PA territories.

Ituran's study highlights the changing dynamics of vehicle theft in Israel and emphasizes the growing need for technological countermeasures, legal reform regarding juvenile offenders, and further cooperation between security forces and private sector actors.