As predicted by specialists, Puebla emerged as the state with the highest number of robberies targeting freight transport in 2024.
By the end of May of the current year, Puebla surpassed Estado de México in the theft of cargo vehicles, with 175 heavy units stolen in the first five months of 2024. Specifically, Puebla reported one more theft than Estado de México, which totaled 174 incidents, according to the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Security Companies (ANERPV).
Comparing the figures between May and April 2024, Puebla saw an increase of 44 stolen units, while Estado de México had 36 heavy vehicles stolen.
David Román, president of ANERPV, stated that robbery rates have sharply increased in Puebla, a state struggling to control the crime. “It’s approaching the levels seen in Estado de México, which is highly unusual because Puebla lacks the economic power and population of Estado de México,” he affirmed.
According to the monthly report published by ANERPV, from January to May, there have been a total of 1,410 vehicle thefts (heavy, private, and light vehicles), with Puebla experiencing the highest increase in these incidents. Although Estado de México still leads with 400 thefts from January to May, Puebla saw a 16% increase, totaling 229 incidents in the cited period.
A similar trend occurred in Guanajuato, rising from 41 thefts in April 2024 to 52 in May of the same year. Of greater concern is the high incidence of violence associated with these thefts. Román noted that violence has been involved in 75% of the cases in Puebla.
The president of ANERPV emphasized that, despite Estado de México having the highest theft rates, it is where the largest number of vehicles are recovered. This is due to the use of technology and protocols developed and operated in collaboration with the National Guard.
So far this year, the association has recovered more than 544 million pesos in assets by retrieving 672 units, including trucks, trailers, dry boxes, private cars, and motorcycles. To date, as a result of authorities’ actions and with the assistance of ANERPV, 92 suspected criminals have been apprehended, and 19 properties linked to organized crime have been seized.
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