40% of cases — where in Israel the most cars were stolen in the past year

Pointer and Ituran have released data on car thefts in Israel for the first nine months of 2026. About 40% of thefts occurred in the central region, while the total number of cases dropped by 20% compared to 2025. The most common method was key cloning through electronic systems.

Pointer and Ituran, companies specializing in locating stolen vehicles, have published data on thefts and attempted thefts in Israel for the first nine months of 2026. According to Pointer's report, the number of cases recorded by the company dropped by 20% compared to the same period in 2025, but in the third quarter the figure rose by 4% compared to the second. About 40% of thefts occurred in Tel Aviv and the central region. Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva together accounted for more than a third of all cases in the third quarter — 17% each. Jerusalem ranked third with 8%. The most common method of theft, according to Pointer, was key cloning by connecting to the vehicle's electronic systems — in about 50% of cases. In another 27% of cases, thieves replaced the car's computer. Ituran's report, based on a sample of 1.1 million vehicles, shows that 56% of thefts were carried out by connecting to the OBD port. Most thefts occurred between 3:00 and 5:00 AM — five times more often than during the day. The main destinations for stolen cars were named as Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Hebron.