Ithuran Study Reveals Trends in 2026 Car Thefts and OBD Hacking Methods
A new Ithuran study for the first three quarters of 2026 reveals that 56% of car thefts use OBD port hacking. Gush Dan leads thefts, and 367 criminal rings were arrested.
A comprehensive study conducted by Ithuran covering the first three quarters of 2026, based on a national sample of 1.1 million vehicles, sheds light on the scale of car thefts across the country and the primary methods employed by criminals.
Methods and Timing of Thefts
According to the findings, 56% of vehicle thefts were executed by connecting and coding through the OBD port, which interfaces directly with the vehicle's electronic systems. In 22% of the cases, the car key was already in the possession of the thief. Violent break-ins accounted for 10% of attempts, while 12% involved towing or loading the vehicle onto a transport truck. Furthermore, 4% of the stolen vehicles in 2026 were targeted and stolen more than once.
The data also highlights peak hours for vehicle thefts. The highest frequency occurred between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM, with the rate of theft during these early morning hours being five times higher compared to daylight hours between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
Geographic Distribution and Vehicle Types
Geographically, the Gush Dan region continues to lead car theft statistics in the country, accounting for 41% of all incidents in the sample. It is followed by the Sharon region with 15%, the southern region with 14%, the Shephelah region with 10%, Jerusalem and Modiin with 18%, the northern region with 1%, and the West Bank with 1%.
When examining vehicle categories, SUVs and crossovers represented 40% of the targeted vehicles during the first three quarters of the year. Standard passenger cars followed at 34%, motorcycles at 14%, commercial vehicles at 6%, trucks at 5%, and heavy machinery at 1%. Additionally, 40% of the stolen cars were white, and 48% hailed from model years 2023 to 2026.
Interceptions and Economic Impact
Ithuran reported that its operations during the first three quarters of 2026 led to the arrest of 367 suspected car theft rings.
"During the first three quarters of 2026, Ithuran led to the arrest of 367 suspected car theft rings. The apprehension of these thief squads in the third quarter alone saved the economy 2 billion shekels," said Nir Szwarc, CEO of Ithuran.
According to the company, real-time arrests assist significantly in securing convictions and prison sentences, which are expected to spare the market thousands of potential thefts throughout 2026 and beyond. Data also showed that the single day with the highest number of thefts was Tuesday, May 12, 2026, with stolen vehicles primarily trafficked toward Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Hebron.
