Car Theft and Bank Robberies Skyrocket: Portugal's Crime Report Reveals Surprising Trends

Major Crime Trends in Portugal

Recent statistics from the Annual Internal Security Report reveal a concerning rise in car thefts and bank robberies, more than doubling compared to 2023. This surge contributes to an overall increase of nearly 3% in violent crime for 2024, despite a decrease of 17,000 criminal reports year-on-year, bringing the total to under 355,000 complaints.

Rising Crime Rates

The report, discussed last week at the Security Coordination Office, indicates that while violent crime has seen significant increases, particularly in public thefts, the overall crime rate has dropped. For instance, car thefts jumped to 260 incidents, up from 126 the previous year, and bank robberies surged from 14 to 32, marking an increase of almost 130%.

Public Safety Concerns

Among the recorded crimes, public robberies accounted for over 7,400 complaints, which is more than half of the nearly 14,400 reports that contribute to a strong sense of insecurity among the populace. Although violence has been rising since 2021, last year's levels matched those of 2019, prior to the pandemic, but remain significantly lower than the 19,000 incidents recorded in 2015.

Geographic Crime Distribution

The report highlights that most districts, especially Santarém, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, and Leiria, have seen notable increases in violent crime. In contrast, the Guarda district experienced a 25% decrease in such crimes.

Group Crimes on the Rise

The report also emphasizes an alarming increase in group crimes, defined as offenses involving three or more suspects, which reached nearly 7,300 incidents last year, an 8% increase from 2023. The Judiciary Police noted an over 50% rise in investigations, primarily related to fraud, with significant occurrences in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, often linked to rivalries among different neighborhoods.

Youth delinquency, involving crimes committed by individuals aged 12 to 16, rose by 12%, surpassing 2,060 incidents. Furthermore, school-related crimes reached 7,128 occurrences in the 2023/2024 school year, predominantly involving assaults and theft.

Decrease in General Crime

Conversely, there has been a 23% decline in incidents of driving under the influence, with 5,600 fewer cases, and a reduction of 4,400 cases of driving without a license. Domestic violence saw a slight 1% decrease, yet more than 30,200 complaints were still reported.

As the release of the 2024 crime statistics approaches, the topic has gained traction in political discussions, prompting the Prime Minister to assert that Portugal is among the safest countries globally, while acknowledging the need for enhanced police visibility.