Crime rings shun Sweden as burglaries and thefts decline

Sweden's battle against international crime rings is yielding significant results, with burglaries and thefts plummeting. Police attribute this success to enhanced cross-border information exchange and a more aggressive application of immigration laws.

From January to July this year, reported burglaries in homes and holiday houses dropped by 36 percent compared to 2022. Vehicle-related thefts decreased by 64 percent, and boat-related thefts by 47 percent. These aren't just numbers; the impact is felt in the underground as well.

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We have become much better at information exchange across national borders within Swedish police. The rings move very quickly, they are well-organized and have planned their work. If we are not quick enough to act, they are out of the country again.

"We have become much better at information exchange across national borders within Swedish police," said Linda Staaf Bydén, who is responsible for international crime actors. "The rings move very quickly, they are well-organized and have planned their work. If we are not quick enough to act, they are out of the country again."

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I would advise forgetting Sweden for a while – they say the cops there work like devils.

This improved intelligence sharing allows police to intervene faster, disrupting theft tours before they can cause widespread damage. Furthermore, Sweden is actively using its immigration laws to prevent potential offenders from entering the country altogether. Over 400 individuals were deported or expelled in 2025, with 240 more so far this year. "We are increasingly focusing our police work on preventing crimes from happening in the first place," Staaf Bydén explained. "With each person we deport, vast amounts of crime reports are prevented from ever occurring."

The effectiveness of these measures is evident not only in statistics but also in intercepted communications. Criminals are now warning each other to avoid Sweden. Messages found on seized phones include advice like, "I would advise forgetting Sweden for a while – they say the cops there work like devils," and "It's difficult now... enormous controls."

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It's difficult now... enormous controls.

Despite the positive trends, police urge the public to remain vigilant. "We are very interested in receiving this type of information," Staaf Bydén stated, encouraging people to report suspicious activity, such as increased traffic at rental properties, especially at night. This information helps police target the infrastructure used by these international theft rings.

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We are increasingly focusing our police work on preventing crimes from happening in the first place. With each person we deport, vast amounts of crime reports are prevented from ever occurring.