Police: Cars, Other Vehicle Thefts Down

So far in 2016, 5,372 vehicles of all types were stolen in Israel – an 18.9 percent drop compared to the same period in 2015, when 6,628 vehicles were stolen. Police attributed the drop to increased enforcement and more effective patrolling.

According to police, the biggest source of stolen cars is central Israel, including the suburbs of Tel Aviv (but not including the city itself), while Tel Aviv was in second place. 1,851 vehicles of all types were stolen in the center of the country in the first five months of 2016, and 1,112 in Tel Aviv, compared to 2,151 and 1,572 vehicles respectively in 2015. In Yerushalayim, 734 vehicles were stolen so far in 2016, compared to 891 in 2015.

Of all the vehicles that were stolen in May, police said that 180 of them were mopeds. Two separate models of mopeds made by Korean firm Kymco accounted for the thefts. Among thieves, the most popular car was the Toyota Corolla.