Portugal sees 19% rise in car catalyst thefts in first half of 2026
Portugal’s national police force, the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), recorded 685 thefts of automotive parts between January and June 2026, a rise of about 19% compared with the same period in 2025. Of those, 178 incidents involved the theft of catalytic converters, which are targeted for the precious metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium) they contain.
The district of Setúbal reported the highest number of cases (135), followed by Porto (113), Lisbon (93) and Aveiro (59). Interior districts showed sharp percentage jumps: Portalegre saw a 200% increase, Viseu a 150% rise and Leiria a 71% rise, indicating that criminal networks are expanding beyond major urban centres. GNR warned owners to park in well‑lit or secured areas, install video surveillance or alarms, avoid leaving vehicles unattended for long periods, and immediately report suspicious activity. The force also announced intensified patrols, inspections of workshops, scrap‑yards and road checks to curb the crime.
Entities: Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) · Portalegre · Portugal · Setúbal · catalytic converters
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Portalegre district saw a 200% increase in catalyst thefts. (GNR data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Porto district recorded 113 cases. (GNR data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Lisbon district recorded 93 cases. (GNR data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Aveiro district recorded 59 cases. (GNR data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] 178 of the incidents involved theft of catalytic converters. (GNR data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] GNR recorded 685 thefts of automotive parts in Portugal between January and June 2026. (GNR data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Setúbal district recorded the highest number of incidents with 135 cases. (GNR data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 685 incidents represent a 19% increase compared with the same period in 2025. (GNR data)