Mexico reports sharp drops in vehicle theft and extortion, but cargo crimes persist

In the eastern region of the State of Mexico, the coordinated Mando Unificado strategy led to a 53 % decrease in vehicle theft and a 36 % reduction in intentional homicides across 15 municipalities, according to Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez.

In Toluca, the capital of the state, extortion investigations fell 70.6 % in the first five months of 2026 – the steepest decline in a decade – after the municipal government installed more than 900 surveillance cameras, smart patrols and an emergency SOS button for businesses.

The federal “Cero Robos” programme in Querétaro cut auto‑transport robberies by roughly 40 %, aided by added personnel, patrols, secure rest stops and inter‑agency coordination.

Despite these gains, cargo‑theft remains a problem elsewhere. Veracruz recorded two driver murders in 2026, while Puebla ranked second nationally with 584 transport‑theft reports in the first half of the year, 94 % involving violence. The State of Mexico’s Circuito Exterior highway concentrates about two‑thirds of cargo‑theft incidents, led by municipalities such as Ecatepec, Tultepec, Nextlalpan and Jaltenco.