site.btaInterior Ministry Reports 80,348 Registered Crimes in 2025, Rise in Phone Frauds

In 2025, Bulgaria recorded 80,348 crimes, 86.7% of which were against the person and property of citizens, and 13.3% were economic, according to the annual report of the Interior Ministry, published on Monday. The data shows a 6.6% decline in recorded crimes compared with 2024. Crime detection rate was 47.9% with 39,960 crimes solved. These numbers show a difference of 536 cases, compared to a written reply by caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev to a question from Ivaylo Shotev MP of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria from March 16.

There was a 36.9% increase in phone frauds from 282 reported in 2024 to 386 in 2025. The highest numbers were reported in Plovdiv region – 71 cases, and Pleven region – 39 cases. Some 103 (26.7%) of them were solved and 107 perpetrators identified.

In 2025, children committed 2,374 thefts, a decrease of 7.9%, compared with 2024. Drug-related crimes committed by minors increased by 3.6%, while hooliganism acts increased by 18.4% compared with the previous year. The number of solved crimes committed by minors decreased by 5%, they were 5,182 in 2025, and 5,453 in 2024.

The total number of investigations conducted by the Interior Ministry is 148,477, of which 137,389 were standard proceedings and 11,088 were expedited. A total of 95,597 investigations were completed and forwarded to the competent prosecution offices, of which 30,982 include a recommendation to file an indictment, 35,811 a recommendation to terminate the criminal proceedings, and 28,804 to suspend the criminal proceedings. The investigation in all pre-trial proceedings was completed within the statutory time limits.