Melbourne’s Malicious Car Damage Hot Spots Ranked: RACV

If you've just finished polishing the family hauler or the weekend warrior, the RACV has a list of Melbourne locations you should avoid leaving it this weekend.

According to new insurance claims data, inner Melbourne has proven a favourite for key-wielding and roof-jumping louts, with 17 percent of all malicious car damage claims lodged in the area.

RACV Insurance claims data shows there were more than 1300 malicious damage incidents in Victoria in the past 12 months that cost more than $3.5million at an average of $2690 per claim.

Melbourne, South Yarra, St Kilda and Richmond - all home to a bustling nightlife - recorded the highest number of claims in Victoria for malicious damage. 

Southern Melbourne suburbs such as Brighton, Cheltenham and Chadstone also recorded a high number of malicious damage claims, along with western Melbourne suburbs such as St Albans, Footscray, Essendon and Williamstown.

The RACV claims data also showed that 57 per cent of malicious damage incidents occurred between the daylight hours of 6am and 6pm.

“Malicious damage claims lodged with RACV were most often a result of vandals intentionally damaging vehicles or would-be thieves attempting to steal vehicles,” RACV's Bob McGuinness said.

“Drivers can reduce the likelihood of malicious damage by avoiding parking in locations where vandals or would-be car thieves are more likely to strike such as railway station and shopping centre car parks."