The area concentrating almost half of Buenos Aires' car thefts

The western region of Greater Buenos Aires has emerged as the epicenter of vehicle theft in the metropolitan area, accounting for a staggering 47.25% of all car thefts in the first half of 2026. Data from Ituran, a company specializing in vehicle location and recovery, reveals a concerning trend where this sector, combined with the southern zone, accounts for over three-quarters of all reported incidents.

Armed robbery continues to be the primary modus operandi for car thieves, representing 68.39% of all cases. These crimes predominantly occur on public streets, with 90.66% of armed robberies taking place on roads and avenues, underscoring the vulnerability of drivers in everyday traffic. Only 9.34% of such robberies happened in garages, indicating a shift towards opportunistic street crime.

Daniela Medina, Ituran Argentina's manager of Security and Emergencies, emphasized the escalating violence and the importance of rapid response. "Armed robbery remains the predominant modality, confirming that criminals are acting with increasing violence and on public streets, taking advantage of normal street activity," Medina stated. "This is why we insist on the importance of having localization systems that allow action in the first minutes, which are the most decisive for recovering the vehicle."

The report also detailed the types of vehicles most targeted, with private cars making up 57.41% of thefts. Pickups followed at 22.30%, with other utility vehicles, motorcycles, and trucks also being targeted. The data further indicates that the highest risk for vehicle theft occurs between 6 PM and midnight, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays being the days with the most incidents.

“

Armed robbery remains the predominant modality, confirming that criminals are acting with increasing violence and on public streets, taking advantage of normal street activity. This is why we insist on the importance of having localization systems that allow action in the first minutes, which are the most decisive for recovering the vehicle.