If you want to know more about the latest motor vehicle theft stats, then you’re in the right place. We’ve gathered a list of some of the most commonly asked questions about motor vehicle theft, and we give you stats so you can stay in the loop.
So far in 2025, the overall motor vehicle theft rate in South Africa has decreased compared to 2024. Motor vehicle and motorcycle theft rates decreased by 9.1% between January and March 2025 compared to the previous year. Hijackings take up a large majority of vehicle theft incidents, with an average of 66 cars being hijacked daily.
To prevent car theft in South Africa, you need to get your car anti-theft tools like GPS trackers, Faraday pouches, and steering wheel locks. These tools create a multi-layered safety net for your car, making it more difficult for thieves to steal your car. You must also be vigilant while driving, and always stay aware of your surroundings.
Keyless car theft preventionrefers to using a Faraday pouch to prevent criminals from transmitting signals from your key fob to gain entry into your car. You also need to physically check if all car doors are locked every time you leave the car. Our blog about keyless car theft gives you more info about this.
A car theft syndicate is a group of criminals who specialise in stealing vehicles. They have a solid plan and target specific cars using various methods. They do a lot of research into their targets and go as far as working with insiders like security guards or car dealership employees. Our blog discusses car theft syndicates in detail.
The cities that have the highest vehicle theft rates in South Africa are:
The contributing factors to some of these cities having high theft rates are that they’re always busy and noisy, making it easier to get away with a crime.
In 2024, Pietermaritzburg ranked highest in crime rates, followed by Pretoria and Johannesburg; this is according to Statista. They also mention that among the 10 most dangerous cities in the world, half of them are found in South Africa. This is mostly driven by the high unemployment rates and high levels of inequality.
No. Recent crime stats show a decrease in motor vehicle theft in South Africa. Vehicle theft cases decreased by 9.1% in the first quarter of 2025 and by 15.1% in cases of hijackings. But the overall car theft numbers remain high, and criminals are finding new ways to steal cars, which is why a GPS tracker is necessary.
Cartrack helps prevent car theft by providing GPS trackers that have smart features like CarWatch. This is a value-added service that prevents unauthorised car movements. If your car moves without your permission, you’ll get an immediate alert. Cartrack also specialises in anti-jamming technology, ensuring that criminals are unable to conceal your car’s location.
Cartrack has recovered more than 100 000 vehicles over the past 10 years. We have one of the best vehicle recovery teams in South Africa, and our services are available nationwide. We always strive to bring you smart technologies that’ll put you a step ahead of criminals, ensuring your car is always safe.
If your car is stolen, call 011 250 3000 or 010 141 3890 and select option 2. This will take you directly to our control room service agents, who will act quickly by dispatching the recovery team to find your car. Try to be calm and make sure you provide as many details as possible about your car and the perpetrators.
According to Romania Insider, the United States of America has the highest rate of vehicle theft, with 295.50 stolen cars per 100,000 people in 2023. Australia comes in second with 252.29 stolen cars per 100,000 people. Italy ranks third in the world with 221.90 cars stolen per 100,000 people.
The most modern car tracking devices come from leading vehicle security service providers like Cartrack. A modern car tracking device should give you live GPS monitoring features that you can access through a mobile app. The car tracking device should also have signal anti-jamming features to prevent thieves from blocking location data to get away with stealing your car.
