Baja California Sur recorded 102 motorcycle thefts between January and May 2026, a 27.5% increase over the 80 cases logged during the same period in 2025. The sharpest spike came between April and May of this year, when cases jumped 25% in a single month, according to the state’s official Common Jurisdiction Crime Incidence Report.
The data, current through May 31, 2026, paints a worsening picture for motorcycle owners in La Paz, Los Cabos, and other parts of the state where two-wheeled transport is a daily fixture. Motorcycles are a primary mode of transportation for many local workers and a popular option for foreign residents navigating congested downtown streets.
Car Theft Averaging One Per Day
Vehicle theft is also climbing. Prosecutors opened 34 investigation files for stolen cars in May alone, an average of roughly one theft per day. The combined data for motorcycle and vehicle theft from the previous year included 14 cases that involved violence, meaning the crimes are not always limited to unattended vehicles.
Baja California Sur still ranks near the bottom of Mexico’s 32 states for total vehicle theft. According to national statistics compiled by Mexinsurance, the state is second to last in overall stolen vehicle counts. But the upward trend is notable in a state that has long traded on its reputation as one of Mexico’s safest.
A Pattern Across the Peninsula
The increase fits a broader pattern on the Baja peninsula. In the northern state of Baja California, business robberies surged 65% during the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with 695 incidents recorded in January and February. While the two states face different crime profiles, property crime is rising across both.
The U.S. State Department currently rates Baja California Sur at Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), a lower advisory than northern Baja California’s Level 3. That distinction reflects the south’s lower rates of violent crime, but the motorcycle and vehicle theft numbers show that property crime is a separate and growing concern.
Motorcycle owners in the state should confirm their insurance coverage is current and consider physical security measures such as disc locks, steering column locks, and GPS trackers. Parking in well-lit, high-traffic areas reduces risk.
The crime incidence data was first reported by BCS Noticias.