35 cars are stolen in Mexico City every day

Leopoldo had two cars stolen in less than 11 months. In both cases, the thieves threatened him with a gun outside his house. In Mexico City, three out of every 10 auto thefts are committed with violence.

However, the crime incidence rate has dropped since 2009, when 26,210 cars were stolen, 43% of them with violence. In 2014 the rate dropped to 15,568, and 32% of the crimes were violent.

Until August this year 8,548 cars had been stolen in Mexico City, and 30% of the thefts were committed with violence, according to figures of the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP).

Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero and Coyoacán are the districts where more cars are stolen, while Agrícola Oriental, Narvarte, San Felipe de Jesús, Del Valle Centro, Morelos, Agrícola Pantitlán, Ciudad Universitaria, Santa Cruz Meyehualco, Jardín Balbuena and Del Carmen, where Leopoldo lives, are the most dangerous neighborhoods.

Mario Crosswell, director of the Coordination Office of Insured Risks (OCRA), says that 80% of the stolen cars are resold with new papers, 10% are sold as spare parts and 5% are used to commit crimes.

He added that 26% of the cars stolen between 2014 and 2015 are Tsuru. Other popular models among criminals are Jetta, Aveo, Tiida and Ibiza as well as Pickup and Estaca trucks and Yamaha 111 250 motorcycles.

Finally, Crosswell said that 66% of the cars stolen in Mexico City are later found in the capital city itself.