While the vehicle thefts they reached their lowest level In three years, with 357 units stolen, the criminals concentrated their activity in the motorcycleswhich recorded an increase up to 5,003 cases in 2025, according to data from the National Police through the Central Research Directorate (Dicrim).
Car thefts show a reduction compared to 2024, when 452 units stolen and 467 in 2023. At the same time, recoveries remain limited, reporting 829 vehicles located this year, below the 936 in 2024 and 997 in 2023.
According to the authorities, the brands hyundai and kia lead the statistics of stolen units in the country, consolidating themselves as the main targets of criminal networks dedicated to this type of crimes.
Motorcycles: the threat grows
As for the motorcyclesthe data indicate that theft continues to be a challenge given its increase in the last year.
In 2024, a reduction was recorded with 4,599 stolen units; However, in 2025 there was a slight rebounduntil reaching more than five thousand cases. Meanwhile, in terms of location, they were found 3,496 motorcycleswhich shows an expansion of the scope of the police operationsHowever, they do not exceed the thefts.
Brands and the black market factor
The authorities point out that the strong presence of Hyundai and Kia in the Dominican vehicle fleet – driven by its use in the public transporttaxis and mobility platforms—facilitates the rapid placement of stolen parts in clandestine workshops and the so-called vehicle “cemeteries”.
Police reports indicate that these models They are particularly attractive to criminals due to a combination of technical and commercial factors. In certain years of manufacture, they present vulnerabilities in their ignition systemswhich facilitates its theft without leaving visible signs of forced entry.
Added to this is the high demand of his pieces in the informal market of spare parts, which encourages heist for scrapping purposes. In most cases, the goal is not the resale of the complete car, but its dismantlinga practice that makes it difficult traceability and reduces the chances of recovery.
This dynamic, the researchers explain, makes these brands a “safe investment“for the criminal gangssince each component finds a potential buyer.
A recent case illustrates this problem when on December 30, a man reported the heist of your vehicle kia K5, year 2019, occurred at kilometer 13 of the Republic of Colombia Avenuein front of the Los Taxistas car wash.
The owner, identified as Francis Xavierrequested the collaboration of citizens to provide any information that contributes to the location of the automobile.
- The National Police reiterated his call to citizens to reinforce the preventive measuressuch as the installation of GPSalarms and mechanical obstacles, while ensuring that investigations remain active to dismantle the gangs dedicated to heist of these brands.
