'A quick steal': The cars most frequently targeted by thieves in Victoria
03/24/2025 02:00 AM
As drivers continue to fight the rise in car thefts in Victoria, authorities have revealed which vehicles are the most targeted.
It's no secret Victorians have been grappling with a massive surge in car thefts over the past year – but new data has revealed the severity of the problem in the state.
According to Victoria Police, referencing data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), between January and December 2024 there were 28,922 vehicle thefts recorded.
RELATED: 'Targeted by the masses': How Holden Commodore owners can protect their cars from theft
The almost 30,000 reported incidents represented the largest percentage increase (41 per cent) in comparison to the top five fastest-growing offences in Victoria. Additionally, authorities said car theft levels in 2024 have been the "highest since 2002".
According to police, cars with electronic push-start technology built in the mid-2010s are the most popular among crooks.
While it’s widely known Holden Commodores built between 2013 and 2017 are a hot commodity, it’s not just Commodores that are susceptible to car thefts, with a range of popular models in the new car market among the most targeted.
These include best-selling models from Toyota such as the HiLux ute (built between 2016-2019), LandCruiser (MY2008-2021), LandCruiser Prado (2012-2022), Camry (2012-2012), and RAV4 (2019-2024).
Additionally, owners of highly sought-after street cars like the Subaru Impreza and WRX (2015-2018) and the Toyota GR86 (2012 and 2017) are advised to install OBD-port locks to mitigate the likelihood of theft.
However, thieves aren't also just looking for popular models, with authorities stating, that a Toyota C-HR (2017-2020), Subaru Outback (2015-2018), XV/Crosstrek (2014-2022), and the discontinued Levorg (2016-2017) are also prone to being stolen.
CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that typically, "younger alleged offenders tend to be involved in theft offences involving a motor vehicle". However, Bob Hill, the Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations, said the issue goes beyond children breaking into homes.
"Technology is also playing a part in rising crime, with vehicle thefts sharply increasing as offenders use electronic devices to exploit vehicle security systems and steal cars," Deputy Commissioner Hill said in a media statement.
"Victoria Police continues to engage vehicle manufacturers around this issue, while vehicle owners can protect themselves from falling victim by installing cheap and easy crime prevention measures.”
According to authorities, Victoria Police intelligence showed "as many as one in five vehicles are being stolen" by thieves using a tool that replicates and/or programs a car's key to bypass a vehicle's security system.
"Offenders are breaking into vehicles, before plugging these devices into the cars on board diagnostic port – as you might plug a USB into a computer.
"Within minutes, the offender can override the security system and start the engine," authorities have warned.
Mitch Tiele from Switchback Lighting – a Melbourne-based company specialising in engine immobilisers – said VF Series Commodores are being "stolen at alarming rates due to the [car] horn's location".
Because of where the horn is located, thieves have found a way to circumvent the OEM's security features quickly without alerting bystanders.
"Had there been a horn fitted in the location of the previous VE Commodore, we wouldn't be seeing as many of these cars stolen as we are," Thiele previously told Drive.
How do you protect yourself from car theft?
Various experts have cited numerous anti-theft devices based on a range of budgets that could mitigate the likelihood of your vehicle being stolen.
Jon Bergman, the Managing Director of Automotive Integration, a Melbourne automotive electronics company, previously told Drive, "GPS tracking is the best way to go, in my opinion, as you can still locate the car even if it’s towed away without being started."
Automotive Intgeration’s AIS GPS System costs an estimated $1100 for the initial device installation and a further $300 annual fee for user-controlled monitoring. However, prices can vary depending on the customer’s vehicle.
Thiele from Switchback Lighting said engine immobilisers are "the best aftermarket anti-theft devices because they stop all known methods of [car] thefts."
"A few features of the IGLA [anti-theft] system is even if thieves physically get your keys, they’re not able to start the vehicle without entering a PIN Code using factory controls on the steering wheel and dash.
"IGLA specifically blocks access to the OBD Port while the car’s [engine] is immobilised (before entering the pin). This stops thieves from being able to program their own key using the OBD port," Thiele previously told Drive.
Fitting an IGLA 200 immobiliser in your vehicle can start from $1080 not including installation, as per Switchback Lighting’s website.
Additionally, some-budget friendly equipment like OBD-port locking devices or Faraday bags can be a potentially effective theft deterrent, with these tools costing between $20 to $100 online.
The post 'A quick steal': The cars most frequently targeted by thieves in Victoria appeared first on Drive.
