Algeria Police Intensify Crackdown on Vehicle Theft Networks as Recovery Rates Improve
BY Dr. Hana Saada
Algeria’s National Police have stepped up operations against vehicle theft amid a sustained rise in organised criminal activity, dismantling multiple networks and improving recovery rates, according to figures released by the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) through its Directorate of Judicial Police (DPJ).
Speaking from the DPJ, Chief Superintendent Khaled Boudemala, head of the property crimes bureau, said vehicle theft is now treated through a structured national framework distinguishing between passenger cars and motorcycles, the latter accounting for a significant share of cases.
Official data show 1,465 vehicles were stolen in 2025, of which 966 were recovered, a recovery rate of 65.93%, up from 58% in 2024 when 1,655 vehicles were stolen. Motorbike thefts also declined to 5,072 cases in 2025 from 5,881 in 2024, with recovery rates improving to 37% from 33%.
The police also reported intensified enforcement against organised networks. In 2025–2026, three major operations led to the dismantling of groups targeting Renault Clio and Jeep Cherokee vehicles, truck theft rings in Algiers, and technologically equipped networks operating in newly developed urban areas. Across these cases, multiple suspects were arrested and placed in pre-trial detention.
Overall enforcement activity has increased sharply, with 2,609 individuals arrested in 2025 in connection with vehicle theft cases, compared with 1,929 in 2024. Authorities also reported the dismantling of 1,149 criminal networks in 2025, up from 81 a year earlier, reflecting a significant escalation in anti-organised crime operations.
The National Police have established specialised units across all 58 wilayas since May 2025 to strengthen investigative capacity and disrupt structured theft rings.
Investigators say criminal methods have evolved from traditional break-ins to electronic bypass systems, cloned key signals and remote hacking tools capable of disabling vehicle security systems. In response, the police have deployed rapid-response protocols including immediate perimeter lockdowns, roadblocks, coordinated patrols and cyber-supported tracking operations.
The police also highlighted increasing reliance on surveillance footage, forensic analysis of chassis numbers and document fraud detection, alongside cooperation with Interpol to track stolen vehicles across borders.
Authorities continue to advise motorists to install GPS tracking systems, mechanical locks and anti-theft alarms, and to report thefts immediately while notifying insurers within 48 hours.
Officials said while certain widely circulated Asian and European models remain frequent targets, no category of vehicle is exempt, underscoring what they described as the central role of vigilance and prevention alongside police action.
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