Car Theft in Israel Concentrated in Central Region, Study Shows Rise in Jerusalem Cases

 Israel’s central region continues to dominate vehicle theft activity, accounting for 42% of all incidents, according to a new report by Ituran based on a large-scale sample analysis.

The Sharon region ranked second with 16% of thefts, followed by Jerusalem and Modi’in at 17%. The southern region and the Shfela each accounted for 10%, while the north recorded 4% and the West Bank just 1%.

Sharp increase in thefts reported in Jerusalem

The report identified a notable spike in thefts in Jerusalem, where incidents rose by 33% compared with the first quarter of 2025.

Analysts said the increase reflects shifting patterns among organized theft networks, though no single cause was identified.

According to the findings, approximately 60% of stolen vehicles from the Gush Dan area were transported through checkpoints and breaches along Route 443 into Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, particularly toward Ramallah.

The report highlights ongoing vulnerabilities along the route, which has long been identified as a major corridor for trafficking stolen vehicles.

The main destinations for stolen vehicles during the reporting period were Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Hebron.

These areas are believed to serve as hubs for dismantling, resale, or further transfer of stolen vehicles.

The report found that the overwhelming majority of thefts involved private vehicles, with only a marginal share involving trucks and about 1% involving heavy engineering equipment.

Authorities and industry experts say the findings underscore the need for enhanced enforcement and monitoring along key transit routes to curb organized vehicle theft.