Car Theft: It’s everywhere.
Every 10 minutes, another car is stolen in Australia, according to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) data. In the year to September 2008 there were 56,298 car thefts in Australia and Victoria accounted for 23.9% of all thefts with 13,500. (1)
Where Does Car Theft Occur?
Data from insurance company AAMI for 2007 indicates that the geographical spread of car theft leaves no suburb immune with thefts recorded right across Victoria and Melbourne. (2) The AAMI data indicated that 58% of cars stolen were from the home or the surrounding streets around the home and 27% were from public car parks. Areas with little off-street parking and minimal street lighting were often targeted. Other frequent locations for car theft included car parks at shopping centres and railway stations. Higher incidences of car theft areas were recorded in the cities of Hume, Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Morland, Greater Dandenong and Casey, Cars were found to be more likely stolen from homes in the suburbs of Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, Coburg, Dandenong, Greenvale, Meadow Heights, Moonee Ponds, Preston, St Albans, Sunshine and Westmeadows. Poorer economic suburbs often recorded greater thefts because there are more older cars with inferior security systems which are easier to steal. Shopping centre car parks are higher car theft locations. Popular car locations include Broadmeadows Plaza (Pascoe Vale Road), Altona Gate (Millers Road), Sunshine Plaza (Hampshire Road), Dandenong Plaza (McRae and Walker St.), Footscray Plaza (Paisley Street) and Chadstone Shopping Centre (Princes Highway). Car theft at railway station car parks is fairly wide spread and tends to move around.
Which Cars are Stolen?
RACV Insurance data indicated that cars insured for less than $6000 are the preferred target for the opportunistic thief accounting for more than half the car theft claims lodged for the 12 months to the end of April 2008. Recent RACV Insurance claims data shows the number of thefts increases with the age of the vehicle. Cars more than nine years old are the most popular with thieves with more than half of thefts being cars more than 16 years old. The number of older cars being stolen was a reflection of the fact that they possess fewer built-in security features. RACV Insurance figures indicate that vehicles under three years old accounted for only 4.5 per cent of claims. Improved security features, particularly the introduction of mandatory engine immobilisers for new cars in 2001 has significantly reduced thefts of newer cars.
Among the vehicles most stolen are popular cars such as Holden Commodore (VN, VL, VT, VS, VP, VR, VX, VK, VY 1,978), Ford Falcon (EA, XF, BA, AU, EF 631), Ford Laser (KE, KC, KF 346), Toyota Camry and Hyundai Excel (X3 234). (1)
Theft From Vehicles
RACV Insurance figures show that cars valued above $26,000 are more likely to have items stolen from them. (3)
Among the most popular items being stolen from cars are wheels, hubcaps, bags/briefcases, tools, GPS units, MP3 players and DVD entertainment systems.
Suburbs with the highest number of thefts from cars were Melbourne, Richmond, South Yarra and St Kilda.
The number of car thefts has been decreasing over the past few years but the recovery rate of stolen autos has fallen.
Theft from vehicles is on the rise with valuables being left unattended in cars more frequently.
It’s Our Responsibility
Every single Australian bears the billion-dollar cost of vehicle theft through higher insurance premiums and the cost of the criminal justice system.
Car theft is extremely costly and inconvenient and tragically each year lives are lost in stolen vehicle accidents.
The responsibility to reduce car theft lies largely with the vehicle owner, the demands they make from new vehicle manufacturers and the various actions they can take to reduce their risk of car theft.
1. National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) data. No. 29. December 2008 2. AAMI Insurance data. 2007. 3. RACV Insurance data for the 12 months to the end of April 2008.