Mexico Sees Surge in Bus Thefts While Car and Cargo Unit Thefts Decline

Mexico has seen a concerning rise in the theft of passenger buses over the last year, according to the Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS).

AMIS Director General Norma Alicia Rosas reported that while the theft of insured vehicles and cargo units has declined significantly, with insured vehicle theft dropping 16.2% to its lowest level in five years, the number of stolen passenger buses more than doubled, increasing from 68 to 162 units.

Rosas emphasized the need for vigilance and stated that AMIS is working with authorities to pinpoint the specific routes where these bus thefts are most prevalent. She noted that some stolen buses are subsequently used in the commission of other crimes, making this a focus for federal security strategies on highways.

Despite the increase in bus thefts, the overall trend for heavy cargo equipment theft saw a 13.6% decrease. AMIS attributed the reduction in vehicle theft to effective coordination between insurers and authorities, including the National Guard's BALAM Strategy, which utilizes intelligence, real-time monitoring, and technology across key highway corridors. The association also noted a national decrease in violent vehicle thefts, although Sinaloa continues to report the highest incidence.

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The most relevant thing here is that we are very attentive, we are in coordination with the authorities to see which are those stretches where buses are being stolen the most.