Victoria Police says key cloning devices are used in nearly a third of all car thefts in the state as the recent surge in auto crime shows no signs of slowing.
Police say more than 10,000 vehicles are stolen in Victoria each year using this technology, with criminals using key cloning devices, readily available online, to disable built-in security systems in cars.
Popular makes and models with push-button ignitions are particularly vulnerable, and the latest Crime Statistics Agency data shows such thefts contributed to a record 33,212 stolen vehicles in the 12 months to September 30, 2025.
Police say the most commonly stolen vehicles include the Toyota LandCruiser, Corolla, HiLux and RAV4, with the Japanese brand’s cars’ vulnerabilities exposed Daily Sparkz in October 2025. Other targets include Subaru Imprezas and, as always, Holden Commodores.
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Key cloning devices are legal in Australia and are intended for use by mechanics and car dealers. They are primarily used to access locked vehicles and program new keys when owners do not have access to their vehicles – for example, if their keys are lost or damaged.
However, these devices can be purchased online by anyone, which leads to their distribution among criminals. Police say 800 such devices were seized from Victoria’s most active car thieves last year.
“Our intelligence estimates that up to 30 cars are stolen every day in Victoria using critical cloning technology,” Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Bob Hill said in a media statement.
“Key cloning devices are becoming increasingly common in search warrants and in the interception of suspicious vehicles. There is no doubt that this method is widespread in the criminal world and as a community we must work together to reduce car thefts.”
The senior police officer said this ABC that the majority of car thieves are adult repeat offenders who walk the streets until they find a vehicle with a push-button ignition.
“It would take less than a minute. It would be a matter of 10, 15 seconds,” he said. “The integrated diagnostic tool connects to a port under the dashboard that overrides the security system and allows the ignition to be turned on.”
According to police, 846 Toyota LandCruisers were stolen last year “in circumstances indicating that technical theft is likely”, up from 241 in 2024. These circumstances include owners reporting to police that they still had their keys but their car was missing.
The total number of car thefts in 2025 is 33,212 compared to 25,762 in 2024, which was already 6,404 more than in 2023 – a whopping 71 percent increase in just two years.
In addition to these statistics, Victoria Police also released a list of car theft hotspots. In 2025 these were Melbourne CBD (561), Dandenong (392), Reservoir (290), Southbank (287), Tarneit (246), Truganina (239), Craigieburn (237), Frankston (234), Narre Warren (216), Epping (215) and St Albans (153) – alongside 192 from Melbourne Airport.
New additions in early 2026 include Berwick, Malvern East, Clayton and Glen Waverley, according to police.
Deputy Commissioner Hill said ABC About 80 percent of stolen vehicles were recovered by police, but often only after they had been used by thieves to commit another crime. Some stolen vehicles are also exported whole or dismantled into individual parts.
Although authorities claim to recover the most stolen vehicles each year, Victoria Police recommends that the community consider “a range of preventive measures to deter thieves.” This also includes an inexpensive on-board diagnostic port lock (OBD), which is intended to prevent a thief from connecting a cloning device to a vehicle.
Other methods include installing items such as steering wheel locks. However, thieves can easily circumvent these deterrents, as shown in a recent video on the site Daily Sparkz YouTube channel. A safer option for theft protection is to have a retrofitted immobilizer installed by a specialist. However, this may affect new vehicle warranties.
Police also recommend parking your vehicle off the street and ensuring it is always locked, even when you are at home.
“Police are targeting the most common car thieves, which continues to result in quick arrests,” added Deputy Commissioner Hill. “Victoria Police continues to increase the number of police officers in the community so our officers can deter and prevent crime.”
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