Tracker Reports Long-Term Decline in Vehicle Crime

Vehicle theft and hijacking rates among Tracker customers in South Africa have dropped significantly over the past thirty years.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Property Crime

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy locked iron gate against a stone wall, representing improved vehicle security trends. — Vehicle crime rates in South Africa have decreased significantly over the last three decades, with Tracker data showing incident proportions falling from 4% to 0.5%. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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New data from Tracker shows that the proportion of affected customers fell from 4% in the late 1990s to just 0.5% in recent years. This long-term trend highlights changing vehicle security patterns across South Africa.

Why it matters

The report provides a multi-decade look at shifting criminal activity, helping to identify how risk levels have evolved for both private and business vehicle owners. It further clarifies the concentration of incidents in specific provinces.

Tracker has successfully recovered 142,253 vehicles and assisted in 21,461 arrests since its inception. The company reported a 96% industry recovery rate for the most recent financial year.

The players

Tracker

Tracker is a vehicle tracking and telematics organisation that monitors security risks and assists in the recovery of stolen or hijacked vehicles across South Africa.

The details

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal remain high-risk areas, accounting for 80% of all recorded vehicle crime incidents. For private owners, theft currently makes up 55% of cases while hijackings represent 45%, with peak activity occurring on weekends and Friday evenings.

The 4% theft and hijacking rate was recorded in the late 1990s.
The latest crime figures cover the period from January to June 2026.
Tracker released the updated crime data figures on 29 October 2026.

Legal Context

The report follows a pattern set by the historical decline in South African vehicle crime rates as tracked by Tracker. This analysis updates the long-term trend by incorporating figures from the first half of 2026 to show how local crime patterns have shifted over three decades.

Business vehicle owners should note that their vehicles remain 17% more likely to be targeted than private ones. Residents in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal should remain aware that these regions account for the vast majority of all vehicle crime incidents.

The takeaway

Vehicle theft remains most frequent on Friday and Saturday evenings, making these times critical for heightened vigilance. Owners can mitigate risk by staying informed about regional crime concentration data in their specific provinces.