Auto parts theft in Paraguay has evolved from isolated crimes into an organized criminal industry, moving millions of guaranis daily. The practice, once considered a petty crime, now operates on a made-to-order basis, with parts openly offered on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, including home delivery.
Data from the Public Prosecutor's Office indicate that in Asunción, the average reaches 250 auto parts thefts per day, with peaks of 10 to 11 incidents per hour against property in the capital. Impunity is alarming: a single victim may suffer up to nine incidents in ten months on the same vehicle.
Criminals prioritize external parts that are easy to remove and have high resale value, such as side mirrors, headlights, tire covers, front bumpers, logos, and emblems, especially from popular brands like Toyota. Vehicles imported from Chile, such as Toyota Vitz, Allion, Premio, Auris, and Runx, are the most targeted due to high demand for their components.
At the lowest level of the chain, people with crack cocaine addiction, known as “chespis,” steal parts in seconds and sell them for amounts between 30,000 and 50,000 guaranis. More organized groups use sophisticated devices, such as GPS signal jammers to avoid tracking and “flipper” equipment to bypass security systems of luxury vehicles.
Despite operations by the National Police, through the Directorate of Vehicle Control, which in April and May 2026 carried out arrests in Luque and Asunción and recovered reflectors, keys, and chargers, impunity persists. Many suspects caught red-handed are released in less than 24 hours, as petty thefts generally do not result in pretrial detention. Furthermore, underreporting is high: many victims do not file formal complaints due to distrust in the judicial system.
Authorities ask the public to file formal complaints with the Public Prosecutor's Office, as the lack of official records hinders tracking of the gangs.