Victoria crowned car theft capital

Victoria has emerged as Australia’s car theft hotspot, as organised crime rings target modern cars via advanced electronic devices. In turn, this has driven a sharp rise in incidents and insurance claims.

Victoria is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to vehicle theft, bucking a broader national trend of stabilisation or decline.

Data from the Insurance Council of Australia shows more than $243 million was paid out across 12,500 theft-related claims in the state last year, with incidents rising 25 per cent between 2024 and 2025 and associated costs (read: insurance payouts) jumping 37 per cent.

Police say the shift is being driven by a fundamental change in how cars are stolen.

Traditional break-ins and hot-wiring have largely given way to electronic theft, where criminals use key cloning, signal amplification and onboard diagnostics (OBD) programming tools to access vehicles without the owner’s key.

Victoria Police has confirmed more than 10,000 vehicles are now stolen each year in Victoria using these methods, equivalent to roughly 30 cars per day – between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of all car thefts annually.

Keyless-entry vehicles are particularly vulnerable.

Popular, high-value models such as the Toyota LandCruiser and RAV4 have become prime targets, not only due to their resale value but also demand in overseas markets.

Organised crime is playing a growing role. Victoria Police recently dismantled an alleged international syndicate accused of stealing more than 150 vehicles valued at over $20 million, many of which were destined for export.

This particular criminal ring had links to the Queensland racket that saw 60 vehicles stolen in Brisbane and shipped to the Middle East.

Compounding the issue is the increasing involvement of younger offenders. Police say organised groups are recruiting teenagers as low-level operatives to carry out thefts, creating a link between youth crime and broader criminal networks.

While Victoria’s theft rates are climbing, other states are demonstrating more effective responses.

Queensland recorded a double-digit percentage drop in vehicle thefts following a major enforcement crackdown – one of its highest drops on record.

South Australia has combined policing with public education while Western Australia has introduced mandatory immobilisers tied to registration compliance.

Victoria does not currently have equivalent measures in place at scale. At present, Victoria Police runs targeted initiatives like Operation Nighthawk to disrupt auto theft rings and key cloning.

The advice for car owners is to park in secure areas, install OBD port locks, and remove valuables and garage remotes from parked cars.

Victoria Police also confirmed the suburbs hardest hit by electronic theft, with Melbourne CBD at the top of the list, followed by suburbs including Dandenong, Tarneit, Narre Warren, St Albans, Craigieburn, Reservoir, Truganina and Epping.

Victoria’s car theft problem shows little sign of slowing, particularly as technology lowers the barrier to entry for offenders and increases the sophistication of organised crime groups.

As it stands, the responsibility will continue to fall on individual owners to protect their vehicles, particularly in Victoria.

In the meantime, simple preventative measures may prove the most effective defence against an increasingly high-tech threat.

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