The number of burglaries in homes and holiday houses, as well as thefts of boats and vehicles, has dropped significantly in recent years. According to the Police, this development is mainly due to more effective international cooperation and a more proactive approach to stopping suspected offenders already at the border. At the same time, seized chats show that Sweden has become a much less attractive target for international theft gangs.

Police statistics show that the trend is clearly moving in the right direction. During the period January–July this year, the number of reported burglaries and attempted burglaries in homes and holiday houses decreased by 36 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

Thefts related to boats and vehicles have also decreased sharply, by 47 and 64 percent respectively. Overall, the number of reported thefts, with the exception of shoplifting, has dropped by just over half during the same period. This is reported, among others, by GP.

International Cooperation Yields Results

According to Linda Staaf Bydén, who is responsible for issues concerning international criminal actors within the Police, an important explanation is that authorities have become significantly faster at sharing information across national borders. Since international theft gangs operate in an organized fashion and often leave the country shortly after committing crimes, rapid information sharing has made it possible to interrupt ongoing crime sprees before they can cause as much damage.

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She also points out that the Police are increasingly using immigration laws to prevent people suspected of potentially committing crimes from establishing themselves in Sweden. During 2025, more than 400 deportations or expulsions were carried out, and so far this year, around 240 more people have been deported.

According to Staaf Bydén, the police’s work is increasingly about preventing crimes before they happen, rather than simply investigating them afterward.

Sweden Has Become Less Attractive

The impact of the police’s work is visible not just in crime statistics. In seized mobile phones, the Police have found chats where criminals warn each other against traveling to Sweden to commit thefts. One of the messages reads: “I would advise forgetting Sweden for a short time – it’s said the cops there work like devils.”

According to the Police, there are also other messages where criminals describe the extensive controls in Sweden and advise against committing crimes here.

Police Want the Public’s Help

Despite the positive development, international theft sprees still occur. The Police therefore urge the public to be alert to suspicious activity, especially at rented houses and cabins which can be used as temporary bases by theft gangs.

If you notice unusually high traffic or the loading of goods, especially during evenings and nights, the Police want you to contact the authorities. According to Linda Staaf Bydén, such tips may help to uncover the infrastructure that international theft gangs use during their crime sprees.