Pointer's operational lineup from Powerfleet Group, the company that locates and recovers stolen vehicles, concludes 2023 with car thefts

In the fourth quarter in the shadow of the war, a 60% decrease in vehicle attempts and thefts compared to the average of the first 9 months of 2023

• Due to the war, 2023 ends with "only" a 120% increase in attempted car thefts compared to 2022. We note that the increase in the first nine months of the year indicated a growth trend of 155% compared to 2022.
• Attempted theft of vehicles from the 2023 model year continue to soar, accounting for 14% of all attempts in the fourth quarter, compared to 7% in the third quarter and 3% compared to the first nine months of the year.
• A decrease in theft of electric and hybrid vehicles due to a technological upgrade adapted to Pointer's electric vehicle models that have been implemented in these vehicles.
• The city of Tel Aviv stars in the number of theft attempts in the fourth quarter with 15% compared to the average of 10% for the entire year.
• 38% OF THEFT ATTEMPTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WERE FOR SUVS AND SUVS, DOWN 9% FROM 42% IN ALL OF 2023.
• The top five cities in attempted car thefts in the fourth quarter of the year are Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Kfar Saba, Be'er Sheva and Petah Tikva.

Due to the war: Curbing the total annual increase in car theft attempts, with an increase of "only" 120% compared to 2022:

The fourth quarter of 2023 is characterized by war and a sharp decrease of 60% in vehicle theft attempts, a phenomenon that reduced the increase in car thefts in the first nine months of the year to a total annual increase of 120% in car theft attempts compared to 2022. If the trend of increase in thefts had continued this quarter as well, we would have witnessed an increase of more than 155% in thefts.

The thefts are carried out by organized gangs around the clock. In addition, the trend of attempted car theft from the 2023 model year continues even more strongly in the fourth quarter, accounting for 14% of all attempts compared to the average of 3% that were known in all of 2023. The phenomenon is explained by the fact that a large part of the thefts are not carried out for spare parts, but for the purpose of selling the vehicles themselves for personal use in the territories of the Authority.

Top cities for car theft in 2023:

The top five cities in attempted car theft in 2023 are Tel Aviv with 10%, Petah Tikva with 7.8%, Jerusalem with 5.6%, Ramat Gan with 5.3% and Beer Sheva with 5.1%

An unusual phenomenon for the fourth quarter, the city of Tel Aviv jumped by 50% in attempted car thefts compared to the entire year; 15% compared to the average of 9%. The phenomenon is explained by the closure and increased military and police activity in the Seam Line area and the Sharon area, which has led to an increase in thefts from Tel Aviv, with the escape route being Route 443, Ni'lin, Modi'in Checkpoint. In addition, squads of thieves from the south arrive in the central region, including Holon, Rishon LeZion, Ramat Gan and Givatayim.

Thefts by model year throughout 2023: 2021 model year vehicles most stolen

Vehicles from 2023 account for 5%, vehicles from model year 2022 account for 13% vehicles from model year 2021 account for 24% of all thefts, vehicles from 2020 account for 17% of vehicle thefts, vehicles from model year 2019 account for 11% of all thefts Vehicles from model year 2018 account for 10% of all thefts.

In the fourth quarter, vehicles from the 2023 model year accounted for 14% of all theft attempts, an increase of almost 300% compared to all of 2023.

Using a mobile disruptor:

IN 85% OF ALL CAR THEFTS, A CELLULAR DISRUPTOR IS USED TO MASK CELLULAR RECEPTION AND GPS TRANSMISSION. THIS INDICATES ORGANIZED AND SOPHISTICATED GANGS WITH EXPENSIVE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, WHICH ARE SUPPLIED TO THEM BY CRIME FAMILIES, WHO OWN THE CAR DISMANTLING LOTS AT THE TOP OF THE CHAIN AND ARE FINANCED BY THEM.

The most popular theft methods in 2023:

Cellular disruption – 85% of theft attempts are carried out with a combination of a cellular disruptor alongside the following methods:

• Key duplication: The leading method of theft is still duplication of a "cocoon" key during the theft process, while connecting to an OBD socket through which you connect to the vehicle's computer or via a smart electronic device. The thieves encode a new key and delete the existing keys. About 42% of all recorded theft attempts were based on this method.  A decrease of 6% compared to 2022.
• Using an 8% wireless replicator.
• Violent assault: Violent assault of a vehicle by replacing a computer accounted for 27% of all thefts. A 20% decrease compared to 2022.
• Theft of keys from the customer's home (double): When there is a direct connection between breaking into the customer's home and the vehicle in the adjacent parking lot. accounted for 12% of all thefts recorded this year.
• Authorised theft: Usually carried out by duplication of a key by an authorized user who has received keys and a valid code of the vehicle. This method of theft accounted for 10% of all thefts committed this year. An increase of 25% compared to 2022.
• Robberies and motor vehicle thefts: accounted for 1% of all thefts this year.

Central region – in the fourth quarter an increase of 16% with 35% of all theft attempts compared to 30% in all of 2023 (contributing to the increase in the city of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan)

Sharon area – in the fourth quarter with a decline to 15% of all theft attempts compared to 18% in all of 2023. A decrease of 16%.

Southern Region – in the fourth quarter with a slight increase to 15% of all theft attempts compared to 14% in all of 2023.

The lowland area in the fourth quarter will drop to 18% of total theft attempts from 21% for all of 2023. A decrease of 14%.

Jerusalem and the surrounding area – In the fourth quarter, an increase to 11 % of all theft attempts compared to 9% in all of 2023.An increase of 22%.

Northern region – down to 6% of all theft attempts compared to 8 % in all of 2023.A decrease of 25%.

Notable times and patterns of theft: No more stealing in broad daylight

In the fourth quarter due to the war, most of the attempted thefts occurred from the evening until dawn, in contrast to the first nine months of the year, when attempted thefts were carried out at all hours of the day, a phenomenon that was a continuation of the trend in 2022 and the problem of governance.

Vehicle Theft & Attempt Statistics by Vehicle Type 2023:

• Jeeps and SUVs account for 42%, down 17% from 2022.
• Private Hebrides and electric vehicles – account for 16%. (First year of measurement)
• Non-hybrid private vehicles account for 15%.
• Commercial vehicles account for 10% of all vehicle thefts. No change.
• Trucks account for 4% of all car thefts. A decrease of 33% compared to 2022.
• Heavy equipment vehicles account for 1% of all vehicle thefts. A 50% decrease compared to 2022.
• Two-wheelers – account for 12% of all thefts. Almost unchanged.

3%

Ilan Goldstein, CEO of Pointer, describes the process of car theft in Israel: "The fourth quarter of 2023 is an exceptional quarter compared to the rest of the year and compared to previous years. In this quarter, in the first month, there was a halt in thefts on the one hand, which affected the statistics, but on the other hand, a sharp increase after the slaughterhouse owners and crime families "came to their senses" and an increase in economic pressure in the territories, the thieves' squads returned to raid Israeli cities. We see the phenomenon of "dispersing" dozens of thieves in certain areas and many thefts in cities that were once not on the theft map, such as Ramat Gan and Givatayim, which replaced Kfar Saba, Ra'anana and Hod Hasharon, because their escape route is now blocked by military activity. In addition, Pointer introduced bulletproof vehicles into operational service to serve as vehicles with which to enter PA territory during operations to return stolen vehicles that were found."