South African Police Service (SAPS) Data — Updated Quarterly

Property-Related Crimes

Theft out of or from motor vehicle in South Africa

Stealing items from inside motor vehicles

Total Theft out of or from motor vehicle (2025)

54,838

9.2%

Rate per 100k

91

Provinces Affected

9

Year-over-Year Changes

YearTotal CasesRate / 100kChange
FY2018246,080407
FY2019118,321196-51.9%
FY202083,187138-29.7%
FY202182,244136-1.1%
FY202288,014146+7.0%
FY202389,256148+1.4%
FY202480,567133-9.7%
FY202573,117121-9.2%

Overall change since FY2019: -53.7%

Theft out of or from motor vehicle by Province

#ProvinceTotal CasesRate / 100k
1Western Cape14,375202
2Northern Cape1,381106
3Gauteng15,50096
4Free State2,65991
5Eastern Cape5,07275
6North West2,84269
7KwaZulu-Natal7,78168
8Mpumalanga2,66356
9Limpopo2,56543

Top 20 Precincts — Theft out of or from motor vehicle

#PrecinctProvinceCasesRate / 100k
1Maydon Wharfkwazulu-natal737,300,000
2OR Tambo International Airportgauteng373,700,000
3King Shaka International Airportkwazulu-natal131,300,000
4Stellenboschwestern-cape7051,880
5Cape Town Centralwestern-cape1,3681,806
6Park Roadfree-state5921,532
7Polokwanelimpopo683991
8Kimberleynorthern-cape302973
9Sea Pointwestern-cape728961
10East Londoneastern-cape380935
11Graaff-Reineteastern-cape114877
12Worcesterwestern-cape307818
13Klerksdorpnorth-west377770
14Durban Centralkwazulu-natal756749
15Cambridgeeastern-cape297731
16Bellvillewestern-cape545719
17Humewoodeastern-cape444709
18Makhandaeastern-cape87669
19Mount Roadeastern-cape412658
20Paarlwestern-cape245653

About Theft out of or from motor vehicle in South Africa

Stealing items from inside motor vehicles. In 2025, there were 54,838 reported cases of theft out of or from motor vehicle across South Africa, representing a rate of 91 per 100,000 population. This represents a 9.2% decrease compared to 2024. This crime falls under the "Property-Related Crimes" classification in SAPS reporting.

Crime Type by Province

RankProvinceTotal Theft out of or from motor vehicleRate per 100k
1Western Cape19,167269
2Northern Cape1,841141
3Gauteng20,667128
4Free State3,545121
5Eastern Cape6,763100
6North West3,78992
7KwaZulu-Natal10,37590
8Mpumalanga3,55175
9Limpopo3,42058

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