Rio de Janeiro study shows 80% of stolen vehicles recovered in five municipalities

The Institute of Public Security (ISP) released a 2025 study on vehicle theft in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Of the 25,235 vehicle robberies and 17,490 vehicle thefts recorded last year, about 80% of the recovered cars and motorcycles were found in five municipalities: Rio de Janeiro, Duque de Caxias, São Gonçalo, Belford Roxo and São João de Meriti.

Within the city of Rio, half of all vehicle thefts occur in just 4.3% of its territory, while Duque de Caxias shows a similar concentration in 2.6% of its area. Six northern communities – Chapadão, Pedreira, Juramento, Manguinhos, Parque Arará and the Complexo da Maré – account for 18% of recoveries in the capital. Reporting to police is rapid, with more than 92% of auto thefts and 91.8% of motorcycle thefts logged within three days. Recovery is swift as well: 95.4% of cars and 64.4% of motorcycles are retrieved within 72 hours. The pattern mirrors trends observed in other Latin‑American cities such as Argentina, Mexico and Colombia.