Motor vehicle thefts in Victoria drop to record lows

Victoria’s rate of motor vehicle thefts has slid to the lowest number in more than a decade.

Figures released by Victoria Police show the state recorded 14,670 cars as being stolen between July 2021 and June 2022 – a drop of almost 4.5 per cent compared with the previous 12 months.

Compare that to 2017, in which Victoria had 22,253 cars stolen – representing a reduction of more than 34 per cent in five years.

The period also marked the fewest number of reported car thefts in 11 years for Victoria, and has resulted in the state’s thefts-per-1000 registered vehicles rate falling from 3.0 to 2.85.

Data from insurance company Budget Direct suggests Victoria now sits in third place behind Queensland and New South Wales respectively for car thefts, and just ahead of Western Australia, which recorded a rate of 2.7 stolen cars for every 1000 registered vehicles in 2021.

Despite a lower theft rate, Victoria still has the second-highest overall number of motor vehicle thefts, with 14,670 compared to Queensland with 15,805 in 2021.

“Continued low crime rates are a positive sign as we move further away from the restrictions imposed during the pandemic, which we know impacted the ability for criminals to offend,” Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations Rick Nugent said in a statement.

Victoria’s multiple lockdowns throughout 2020 and 2021 have helped contribute to the trend lower – along with a greater number of people working from home as a result – with Victoria Police reporting half of all stolen cars showed no signs of visible force.

While the police report did not go into detail, this could be a result of vehicles being left unlocked by owners, keys being taken during home burglaries, and thieves increasingly using sophisticated technology to gain access.

Police say more than 30 per cent of reported thefts from a motor vehicle were related to number plates being stolen – with many being used to steal fuel due to higher pump prices – renewing calls for owners to affix their number plates with anti-tamper screws.

“Our focus will remain steadfast on ensuring the community is not only safe but feels safe,” Deputy Commissioner Nugent said.

“Our Neighbourhood Policing Model will also ensure local police are tackling the local issues the community care most about, resulting in more visible police, targeted police interventions to fix issues, and open communication with community members.”

Despite overseeing a 60 per cent reduction in car thefts over two decades, 12 months ago the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council was disbanded, following the withdrawal of $1.25 million in funding by the Insurance Council of Australia.