South Africa recorded 6,945 cases of theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles between January and March 2026, an average of about 77 vehicles stolen each day, according to the South African Police Service’s fourth-quarter crime figures for the 2025/2026 year. While the overall national tally fell year‑on‑year, KwaZulu‑Natal (KZN) remained one of the provinces most severely affected.
National trend — fewer thefts but major local concentrations
The SAPS data shows a 10.2% decline in reported vehicle-theft incidents compared with the same quarter a year earlier, when 7,731 such crimes were recorded. Carjackings also fell sharply, down 20.4% from 4,533 to 3,609 incidents. Cases described as "theft out of or from motor vehicle" dropped by 7.2%, from 19,032 to 17,664.
Despite the national reductions, the distribution across provinces remains highly uneven. Gauteng recorded 3,675 stolen vehicles, more than most other provinces combined. KwaZulu‑Natal follows with 1,279, while the Western Cape reported 920 losses in the same 90‑day period.
| Province | Vehicle thefts (Jan–Mar 2026) |
|---|---|
| Gauteng | 3,675 |
| KwaZulu‑Natal | 1,279 |
| Western Cape | 920 |
| North West | 295 |
| Mpumalanga | 258 |
| Eastern Cape | 220 |
| Limpopo | 126 |
| Free State | 147 |
| Northern Cape | 25 |
Durban and surrounding policing areas among worst affected
The national list of the 30 police stations with the most motor-vehicle thefts includes several in and around Durban, signalling concentrated pressure on KZN policing resources. The KZN stations on that list are:
- Chatsworth — 107 recorded thefts
- Phoenix — 80 recorded thefts
- Durban Central — 71 recorded thefts
- Pinetown — 70 recorded thefts
- Verulam — 69 recorded thefts
- Berea — 67 recorded thefts
These figures place several Durban policing precincts alongside high‑incidence stations in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Nationally, Brooklyn (Gauteng) topped the station list with 152 thefts in the quarter, followed by Krugersdorp on 115.
What the numbers mean for residents
Residents in the affected KZN areas should note that, while the overall trend shows a decrease in reported vehicle thefts and carjackings, local hotspots remain vulnerable. Prevention measures that have been recommended by policing experts and victim‑support organisations include:
- Locking vehicles and parking in well‑lit, attended areas where possible.
- Not leaving valuables or documents in plain view inside vehicles.
- Installing approved immobilisers or steering‑wheel locks and ensuring vehicle tracking devices are active.
- Reporting suspicious activity immediately to your local police station and obtaining an incident number.
Motorists are also urged to familiarise themselves with local SAPS contact details and to record the serial numbers of in‑car equipment and accessories for easier tracing if items are stolen.
Policing and prevention remain local priorities
The concentration of thefts in metropolitan and peri‑urban policing areas places added strain on station resources. Local community policing forums and neighbourhood watches continue to play a role in crime prevention, while SAPS has previously signalled targeted operations in high‑incident precincts.
For residents of Durban and surrounding towns, the SAPS quarterly snapshot offers both a measure of reassurance — the national drop in incidents — and a reminder that vehicle security remains a pressing local concern. Motorists should take practical precautions and report every incident so the pattern of crime is fully reflected in future statistics.
Data in this report is drawn from the SAPS crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 reporting period (January–March 2026).
