Drivers are being warned to safeguard their car keys and park cars in a locked garage as thieves target newer models.
National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) figures reveal 1779 cars were stolen across Wyndham between 2010 and 2014, with more than half of all stolen vehicles taken from a garage or driveway.
Hoppers Crossing topped the list for the most cars stolen in 2014, at 120 cars, while Werribee (103 car thefts), Point Cook (59), Tarneit (44) and Truganina (36) rounded out the top five hotspots.
NMVTRC executive director Ray Carroll said 70 per cent of all stolen vehicles had been recovered, indicating that thieves were using them for joyriding or to commit other crimes.
Mr Carroll said thieves were increasingly breaking into homes to steal car keys so they could take newer-model cars.
“With advances in security technology making it impossible to ‘hot wire’ a modern car, we are seeing a shift in offenders’ methods towards stealing keys,” he said.
“Often the thefts occur due to keys being left in obvious places, such as in the ignition or the garage, but an increasing trend we are seeing right across Australia is keys being stolen via residential burglaries.
“Many people leave their keys on the kitchen bench or on a key hook, places often visible through a window or open door.
“Our number one tip therefore is to safeguard your keys.”
Mr Carroll said people driving older-model cars, including Nissan Pulsars, Hyundai Excels, Holden Commodores and Honda Accords, should consider installing an after-market immobiliser or using a club lock to prevent thefts.
Detective Acting Sergeant Mick Welsh from Wyndham’s crime investigation unit said that, as well as homes, train station car parks and Werribee Plaza were hotspots for vehicle crime. He called on drivers to lock their cars and to take away, or hide, any valuables rather than leaving them in cars.
“Don’t leave any valuables lying in the car, because that gives them an interest in the car in the first place,” Acting Sergeant Welsh said.
Most commonly stolen vehicles:
Nissan Pulsar N15 (pictured in the graph)
Hyundai Excel X3
Holden Commodore VT
Honda Accord
Nissan Patrol GU
