New Report Highlights Shift in Vehicle Theft Trends and Electric Cars

Electric vehicles have become a familiar sight on roads, and their presence in vehicle theft statistics is also growing. A new report by Pointer, part of the Powerfleet group, summarizes the first nine months of 2026, highlighting changes in the types of vehicles targeted and the cities where these incidents are concentrated.

Theft Trends and Electric Vehicles

According to the company's data, the share of electric cars out of total thefts and attempted thefts rose from 5% in the same period last year to 7% this year. Pointer attributes this increase to the expansion of the electric vehicle fleet in over the past two years. This means electric cars account for a larger share of recorded events, though the figure alone does not indicate that the risk for any individual electric vehicle has increased.

Geographical Distribution and Vehicle Types

When it comes to the cities with the highest number of cases, the third quarter saw a tie for first place: Tel Aviv-Yafo and Petah Tikva share the top spot. Together, these two cities account for more than a third of the incidents recorded by Pointer. Petah Tikva increased its share compared to the same quarter last year, while Jerusalem ranks third.

"Private cars overtook SUVs and crossover vehicles in the third quarter, becoming the largest category in the report and reversing the previous quarter's trend." — Pointer Report

Overall Statistics

The overall picture also brings encouraging news for vehicle owners: Pointer reported a 20% decrease in thefts and attempted thefts since the beginning of the year compared to the same period in 2025. However, the third quarter saw a slight increase compared to the previous quarter. Motorcycles and scooters also featured prominently, making up a quarter of all recorded thefts and attempted thefts in the third quarter.