More cars stolen in Melbourne than all other capital cities combined
Victoria is the car theft capital of Australia, with more insurance claims for stolen cars made in Melbourne than all other capitals combined last year.
New data from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has revealed payouts for stolen cars in Victoria last year totaled $243 million across 12,500 claims; that’s more than the rest of Australia combined.
Victoria recorded a 25 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of motor theft insurance claims, as well as a 37 per cent increase in total payouts. While applications fell by double digits in other states, Victoria alone bucked the trend. The sharpest increase was seen in Melbourne, with the number of applications remaining more or less stable in regional Victoria.
There were 10,400 claims made for stolen cars in Melbourne last year; this number dwarfed claims in all other capitals.
Andrew Hall, chairman of the council, which represents the interests of Australian insurance companies, said: “A car is stolen or broken into every 42 minutes in Victoria. This level of crime is unacceptable.”
ICA data only includes vehicles that are insured and for which claims have been made.
Victoria Police data shows more than 32,000 cars will be stolen in the state in 2025; This is the highest level since 2001. This was much higher than NSW (14,845) and Queensland (18,573). Since 2022, there has been a 96.9 per cent increase in the number of stolen cars in Victoria and an 83.97 per cent increase in the stolen vehicle rate per 100,000 people.
Stolen cars are often used for entertainment purposes by young criminals who are “shared and bragged about” on social media, shipped abroad by criminal organizations for profit, or used as “shooters” to enable incendiary bombs and drive-by shootings.
Police say the biggest factor behind the increase in car thefts is that criminals in Victoria are increasingly using key cloning devices to electronically override a car’s security system. Last year, nearly 10,000 cars were stolen using this technology, or 30 vehicles per day. Police did not answer the question of why car theft rates in Victoria were so much higher than in other states.
But Victoria Police deputy commissioner Bob Hill told a press conference earlier this year that although most car thefts were carried out by criminals over the age of 25 who learned the trade through criminal networks, young criminals were also recruited “as slaves” by organized crime groups to steal cars on their behalf.
The practice has become particularly common in Victoria, including recent attacks on nightlife venues in Melbourne. young people are recruited through encrypted apps and complicates police efforts to find the puppet masters.
The Insurance Council’s Hall said Queensland had Australia’s largest car theft insurance bill, but the figure had fallen dramatically since the state government introduced reforms to combat crime.
“We can just say they’re looking at the system and addressing issues related to adult crimes, adult terms, bail laws and so forth,” he said.
Victoria passed this year laws for juvenile violent offenders It can carry a longer prison sentence, but it does not cover non-violent crimes such as car theft.
“We have a very good, close relationship with Victorian policing… the police are doing the best they can to arrest criminals and try to solve the problem, but clearly that alone is not enough,” Hall said.
“At the end of the day, if criminals get caught, go through a process, get out on the street and re-offend, then there’s a cycle problem here, a systemic cycle problem.”
A state government spokesman said police were actively targeting car theft. “We have also increased sentences, strengthened bail laws and made criminals much more likely to be arrested.”
On Wednesday a Victoria Police spokesman said police recovered around 80 per cent of stolen cars in a year, but “we know it’s cold comfort if your car is stolen”.
“To best protect your vehicle, we recommend vehicle owners take anti-theft measures such as in-car diagnostic port locks, park off-street whenever possible, and always lock your doors and windows.”
On April 30, contractor Matt Jones parked his Ford Mondeo outside a shop to have breakfast on his way to work. “Just dim sim, potato cake, energy drink,” he said, leaving his keys under the front seat while inside. When he got out less than a minute later, the car was gone.
Inside were his work tools and wallet, as well as a collection of sentimental items, including his first Father’s Day gift from his son. “I’m kicking myself,” Jones said. “When the tough days come, you look at these things and think, ‘These are the ones I’m doing this for.'”
Shereen Faiyaz saved for five years to buy her husband Mohammed a 2000 Land Cruiser for his 50th birthday. At around 5 a.m. on February 19, the couple woke up early to have a meal together during Ramadan. Muhammed left home to go to work while it was still dark and saw that his car had been stolen.
“I went out to drop him off to say goodbye and then he looked back and said: ‘My car’s gone’… and then he started crying,” Shereen said.
The couple checked CCTV footage and saw a burglar break the rear window of the car, climb into the driver’s seat and start the vehicle electronically without keys. Mohammed, who worked as a truck driver, sometimes used the car to tow a caravan interstate to earn extra income when business was slow, and the couple also used the car for camping trips.
Since the theft, the couple have kept the car keys in an aluminium-lined box so they cannot be remotely copied by electronic devices, installed a steering wheel lock and installed tracking devices in their daughter’s car.
“It’s not about the money, it’s not about the car, but I think for most of us it’s sentimental value,” Shereen said. “I’m still very emotional about it, and my husband is still very emotional about it.”
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Angus Delaney is a reporter for The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31.Connect via email.
