Moscow's car thefts plummet 97% in 13 years thanks to AI surveillance
Car thefts in Moscow have fallen dramatically over the past 13 years. The city reported around 13,000 cases in 2012, but by 2025, that number had dropped to just 400. Officials credit a mix of advanced surveillance and long-term strategy for the sharp decline.
The reduction in thefts aligns with Moscow's Transport Development Strategy through 2030. Deputy Mayor Maxim Liksutov highlighted this plan as a key factor in the city's success. Nearly 3,700 cameras now operate across the city, using neural networks to detect violations and recover stolen vehicles.
Insurance data still ranks Moscow as the Russian city with the highest theft rate, accounting for 31% of cases. However, the overall drop represents a 97% decrease since 2012. The city's round-the-clock photo and video surveillance has expanded significantly, making it harder for thieves to operate undetected. Different reports list varying brands as the most targeted. In Moscow, Geely, Kia, Lada, Hyundai, and Toyota have been frequently stolen. Nationally, Soglasiye Insurance identified JAC, Nissan, and Lada as the top three in 2025. RESO-Garantiya's data also pointed to Toyota, Lexus, Skoda, Hyundai, and Lada as common targets. While Moscow's results are clear, comparable data for other major Russian cities remains limited. Public sources do not provide full statistics on how similar surveillance systems have affected theft rates elsewhere.
Moscow's theft rate has plummeted from thousands of cases per year to just a few hundred. The city's investment in AI-powered cameras and 24/7 monitoring has played a major role. Despite still leading in theft numbers, the overall trend shows a near-total reduction in incidents since 2012.
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