Car theft in Victoria is the highest in over two decades and has increased by almost 100 per cent in the last three years alone.
With more than 32,000 vehicles stolen in the state last year, auto theft has reached its highest level in a calendar year since 2001.
The number of stolen cars in the Garden State has increased 96.9 percent in the last three years.
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
Popular vehicles such as the Holden Commodore, Subaru Impreza and Toyota LandCruiser, Corolla, HiLux and RAV4 have become increasingly popular targets for thieves.
A total of 485 Commodores were stolen in 2022, increasing each year to 1,345 examples stolen in 2024. In 2025, the number fell slightly to 1,271 vehicles.
However, thefts of these other models continue to increase. The LandCruiser went from 89 stolen vehicles in 2202 to 846 in 2025, the RAV4 went from 47 to 467, the HiLux went from 140 to 592 and the Subaru Impreza went from 31 stolen vehicles to 445.
According to Victoria Police, “the analysis suggests that positive signs are beginning to emerge and overall crime is beginning to stabilize after several years of sharp increases.”
“However, the same analysis assumes that, given ongoing issues such as cost of living, reoffending and increasing use of technology in crime, a significant reduction in overall crime is unlikely to be imminent,” the Victoria Police press release said.
Victoria Police confirmed earlier this week that key cloning devices – which can be easily purchased online and are used to disable built-in security systems in cars – are now used in 30 to 40 per cent of all car thefts.
Last year, around 800 of these devices were seized during the execution of search warrants and it is said that up to 30 cars are stolen every day using this technology.
These onboard diagnostic tools connect to a port under the dashboard to allow the ignition to be turned on.
The deputy commissioner said this 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.
“While it is encouraging that crime appears to be stabilizing, it will take time for crime to return to levels more traditional in Victoria,” Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Bob Hill said.
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.
“Victoria Police continues to increase the number of police officers in the community to enable our officers to deter and prevent crime,” Assistant Commissioner Hill said.
MORE: Police say key cloning technology is a major factor in the Victorian state’s car theft epidemic
