Thieves keep stealing Holden Commodores – here's how and why they do it

12/05/2024 02:00 PM

It’s no secret the Holden Commodore has long been one of Australia’s favourite cars, despite being out of production for the better part of a decade.

However, a growing body of data gathered by various state road authorities suggests the homegrown icon is also popular among thieves across the country.

According to the latest data collated by the Crime Statistics Agency and seen by Drive, there were 949 Holden Commodores stolen between July 2023 and July 2024 in Victoria alone.

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While Victoria Police declined to specifically comment on the rise of Holden Commodore thefts in the state, a spokesperson told Drive: "Where any trends might be identified in vehicle thefts, specialist areas such as the Vehicle Crime Squad liaise closely with manufacturers and insurers to ensure everyone is able to target any potential issues".

It's a similar story in South Australia, where the Royal Automotive Association (RAA) – the state's peak motoring body – said the Australian icon was one of the most stolen vehicles in South Australia in the 2023–2024 financial year.

In Queensland, the Royal Automotive Club of Queensland (RACQ) previously said the Holden Commodore was the most stolen vehicle in the state between 2019 and 2020.

However, an RACQ spokesperson said the Toyota HiLux, Toyota LandCruiser and Ford Ranger are now the models more commonly favoured by thieves in the state over the past couple of years.

In the case of New South Wales, a 2023 report conducted by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) found that Holden vehicles were the most frequently stolen.

While BOSCAR didn't state if these Holden models were mainly Commodores, for context, there were 6953 Holden vehicles stolen in NSW between April 2018 and March 2023, at a theft rate of 1.8 vehicles per 100,000 registered cars.

When approached for comment by Drive, NSW Police declined to comment.

Why are thieves stealing Holden Commodores?

According to Jon Bergman, the Managing Director of Automotive Integration, a Melbourne-based automotive electronics company, Holden Commodores are frequently targeted by thieves because "they are relatively commonplace on the roads and blend in better than European brands".

"The more premium versions such as the HSV [Holden Special Vehicles] are more desirable, but most of these cars are usually targeted for two reasons," Bergman told Drive.

"As previously mentioned, [Holden Commodores] blend in easily, especially if they are being used for crimes. Otherwise, they are targeted for parts.

"Newer models are now being targeted because Holden (especially HSV) no longer has a manufacturing presence in Australia.

"After seven years, a manufacturer no longer needs to provide spare parts. This has opened the floodgates to theft for rebirthing [operations] and crime syndicates dealing in stolen parts for the repair industry," he explained.

The lack of new spare parts for Holden Commodores means available parts in the secondary market can be a lucrative business for thieves.

Generally speaking, rebirthing is a colloquial term used to describe an illegal operation where offenders steal a vehicle and attach new markings like false vehicle identification numbers (VIN) on the car before reselling.

As previously reported by Drive, in June 2024, Victoria Police uncovered a rebirthing operation involving Holdens and HSVs, where an unnamed man was arrested and charged for the illegal scheme.

According to police, officers recovered multiple stolen number plates, 20 sets of car keys and multiple vehicle diagnostic tools valued at $50,000.

"Rebirthed vehicles can be a major safety threat to unwitting buyers – often the rebirthing process is not carried out by a qualified mechanic, meaning that the car could have serious issues, which can result in an accident," Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald from the Vehicle Crime Squad said.

How are thieves stealing Holden Commodores?

While older Holden Commodores are typically more prone to theft because they lack advanced security measures, Bergman said newer models are also vulnerable because thieves can gain access to the car by reprogramming a new key "or have the original RF-key hacked or scanned nearby".

"The thieves have worked out how to disable the factory alarm system and, with a specific piece of equipment, program a new key into the car and drive off with it," he told Drive.

"A client showed me footage of thieves stealing his car recently. They found the car by placing an [Apple] Air Tag on the car so they could locate it later.

"The footage showed them arriving at 4:00am… they stole the [client's] car after programming in a new key. The whole process took around three minutes," Bergman explained.

The Managing Director of Automotive Integrations told Drive he's seen two to three Holden Commodore owners from the HSV Club of Victoria visiting his Moorabbin workshop on average to upgrade their security measures "in fear they may get tagged".

How can car owners protect themselves from theft?

To help prevent car theft, safety experts recommend a range of security tools and gadgets that can decrease the likelihood of a vehicle being stolen.

Australian companies like Automotive Integration and Steal Stopper are offering electronic security devices such as GPS trackers and remote immobilisers that owners can access through their phones.

"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," Bergman told Drive.

"The AIS live system allows the vehicle to be tracked and remotely shut down from the owner's phone anywhere in the world," he added.

The Managing Director of Automotive Integration said the AIS GPS System costs approximately $1100 for the initial installation of the device and an additional $300 annual fee for user-controlled monitoring. However, prices can vary depending on the car.

In the case of Steal Stopper, it offers a remote engine stop/start feature customers can access through an encrypted smartphone app.

According to Glenn Sharp, Steal Stopper’s Chief Operating Officer, the $1395 one-time fee covers the device, installation, and app/pin set-up. However, the device is limited to a range of models.

Car owners wanting an affordable safety tool can also look for items such as Faraday bags – a bag or a pouch that is lined with material to block electromagnetic fields – that can prevent a thief from boosting or relaying a car key's signal.

Drive previously tested a range of Faraday bags ranging from $12 to $100. To find out if these security accessories are effective, click here.

"Old-school methods like steering wheel [and] gear stick locks or wheel clamps act as a deterrent to potential thieves," an Aus Security Products spokesperson previously told Drive.

Additionally, a Victoria Police spokesperson advised "Keeping your vehicle secure and in a well-lit area can make it less attractive to potential thieves".

"Always lock your doors and close your windows, even if you are parking at home, including in a garage. Installing good quality locks on garages and gates, and security measures such as CCTV or sensor lights in the area where your car is parked, can also help deter thieves," they added.

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