In 2025, Estonia witnessed a troubling rise in thefts, marking the highest incidence of such crimes in the past ten years. According to the crime overview published by the Ministry of Justice, property crimes increased by two percent compared to the previous year, with theft being the most prevalent type of crime reported. Systematic thieves, identified as individuals who have committed theft at least three times, were particularly responsible for a large proportion of these thefts, with 7,095 incidents occurring in retail stores alone.

Residential burglaries and vehicle thefts also contributed to the overall surge in theft, with 5,340 cases of home burglaries and 128 vehicle thefts recorded. The distribution of theft incidents varied by region, with Tartu County reporting the highest number of thefts per 10,000 residents, further highlighting the disparities in crime rates across different areas. Overall, a total of 28,033 crimes were reported in 2025, which is a slight decrease of one percent from 2024.

Additionally, while property crimes saw an increase, personal crimes experienced a decline of four percent. This included a decrease in the number of violent crimes such as physical assault, which totaled 5,209 cases in 2025. However, there were still 28 reported cases of murder and attempted murder, indicating ongoing concerns about violent crime, despite the overall decrease in personal crime rates. The data underscores the complexities of crime trends in Estonia, as authorities grapple with both increasing property crimes and decreasing violent offenses.