Learn about the times, methods, and regions of Colombia where the most vehicles are being stolen this year.

Vehicle theft continues to be a headache for citizens, insurers, and the country's authorities. So far this year through May, National Police statistics report that criminals have stolen no fewer than 3,581 vehicles and nearly 13,470 motorcycles nationwide.

Despite this scourge and the high accident rate on the country's roads, the level of insurance coverage is relatively low, with only 53 percent of the vehicle fleet—some 10.3 million vehicles—insured, and of these, half are motorcycles, according to statistics from the Colombian Federation of Insurers (Fasecolda) as of December of last year.

While criminals are always on the lookout to take advantage of any driver's carelessness to steal vehicles, a recent analysis by Ituran Colombia, a firm specializing in the recovery of stolen vehicles, indicates the regions of the country and the times preferred by thieves to rob drivers of their means of work and transportation.

Based on the fleet of vehicles assigned to the company's tracking system, the agency established a snapshot of criminal behavior and the factors associated with this type of theft in the country, where six out of every 10 vehicle thefts occur in Bogotá and its surrounding areas.

Colombia's central region, perhaps because it is one of the most urbanized, is where the most crimes of this nature occur. Bogotá and its surrounding areas top the list with 32.2 percent, followed by Antioquia (18.3 percent), Valle del Cauca (15 percent), and Atlántico (10 percent). Factors such as high vehicle density, constant mobility, and commercial activity appear to influence the recurrence of crime in these areas.

Of the 3,581 vehicles stolen in the first five months of 2025, according to National Police statistics, more than 34.2 percent were recorded in Bogotá and Cundinamarca.

These figures show that, although the phenomenon is nationwide, its intensity is especially felt in the country's main urban and logistics corridors, where vehicle exposure is greatest and criminals find more opportunities, the company warns.

The firm's analysis also indicates that criminals' main targets are private vehicles, including pickup trucks and cargo trucks. The former accounted for 61.7 percent of thefts, while the latter accounted for 36.7 percent of the total. Among the reasons why these types of vehicles are among criminals' main targets is their ease of sale and their limited technological protection systems.

"These figures not only demonstrate the constant risk drivers face in Colombia, but also the positive impact of having cutting-edge technology and expert support. At Ituran, we remain committed to providing real security solutions, working collaboratively with our users and the relevant authorities to combat vehicle theft in the country," said Juan Francisco Villamil, manager of Ituran Colombia.

Two other aspects highlighted by the company's analysis are the methods and times criminals prefer to commit their crimes against vehicle owners in the country.

The report indicates that the most critical time for vehicle thefts is between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m., accounting for 37.2 percent of the cases included in the analysis. This is followed by the period between 6:00 a.m. and noon, with 30.6 percent, suggesting that criminals operate during peak traffic periods, when it's easier to go undetected and the surrounding area receives less attention.

And regarding the circumstances, the same analysis reveals a rather worrying fact: 43.9 percent of cases correspond to situations in which users forget where they left their vehicle, or it has been towed by a tow truck due to violations (improper parking) or similar situations, where the owner's inattention plays a key role.

The ability to act immediately and in coordination with the authorities has allowed us to reduce response times to an average of 31 minutes from the time the customer reports the theft until the vehicle is recovered.

Another high percentage, 39.4 percent, of cases, is the result of a breach of trust, demonstrating the cunning of criminal gangs. Another 13.3 percent were committed through robbery and/or snatching, and the remaining 3.3 percent involved the use of scopolamine or extortion of the driver.

According to Villamil, "the ability to act immediately and in coordination with the authorities has allowed us to reduce response times to an average of 31 minutes from the time the customer reports the theft until the vehicle is recovered."

He adds that having a monitoring and tracking system not only increases the chances of recovery, but also reduces associated risks and provides greater peace of mind to owners, whether they are individual users or companies with large fleets.