Car thefts and robberies rise in Portugal: PSP records 26 million euros in losses in 2025
Vehicle robberies in the PSP area increased 19% in the first half of 2025. The number of arrests doubled compared with the same period last year.
Vehicle crime soars: robberies up 19% and arrests double in PSP area
Correio da Manhã reports that vehicle robberies in the PSP operational area increased 19% in the first half of 2025, compared with the same period in the previous year. Thefts of motorised vehicles also grew by 5% during the same interval. The number of arrests doubled: 86 for vehicle theft — an increase of 82% — and 28 for vehicle robbery, representing growth of 100%.
Throughout 2025, the PSP recorded 5,368 crimes of motorised vehicle theft, 216 of motorised vehicle robbery and 48 of theft of industrial and agricultural machinery. The total of 5,632 occurrences represents an increase of 3% compared with the 5,449 registered in 2024.
In the first six months of this year, the number of reports rose to 2,802, against 2,665 in the first half of 2025.
Losses exceed 26 million euros
The total value of goods reported stolen or robbed to the PSP in 2025 exceeded 26 million euros, according to data accessed by Correio da Manhã. Nevertheless, this amount represents a decline of 16% compared with around 31 million euros recorded in 2024 — indicating that, despite the increase in the number of occurrences, the average value of goods taken was lower than in the previous year.
Vehicle recovery rate reaches highest level since 2019
The PSP states it maintains the fight against this phenomenon as a "priority". In 2025, the recovery rate for stolen or robbed vehicles stood at 66%, the highest since 2019 and an increase of 4 percentage points compared with the 62% achieved in 2024.
The Police highlights that their surveillance covers not only vehicle theft and robbery, but also "related offences such as insurance fraud and abuse of trust". The PSP also pays particular attention to the theft of vehicle components, "particularly multi-function steering wheels and centre consoles" — a crime which, according to the authorities, remained "concentrated in the metropolitan areas of Porto (74% of occurrences) and Lisbon (15%)".
Specialised unit created in 2019
To tackle this type of crime, the PSP created in 2019, within the Criminal Investigation Department, the National Unit for Investigation of Vehicle Crime (UNICA), a team specialised in combating the phenomenon. The unit has particular focus on the mobility of criminal groups involved in this type of offence.
Catalytic converter theft concentrated in Lisbon and Setúbal
Catalytic converter theft recorded 465 occurrences in 2025. The crime was concentrated mainly in the Lisbon Metropolitan Command, responsible for 48% of occurrences, and in the Setúbal District Command, which accounted for 10% of the total. In investigations into this type of theft, 237 suspects were identified.
Source: Correio da Manhã