Car brands including Toyota, Holden and Ford are the firm favourites among thieves and stolen most frequently, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has found. But thieves are also targeting Kia, Jeep and Isuzu in a surprisingly sneaky new social media trend.
For the third consecutive year, data from the NMVTRC [1] show that the Holden Commodore VE MY06_13 was the most stolen single model of car in Australia. As a collective model of car, the Toyota Hilux and Holden Commodore were two of the most targeted cars in 2021.
Brisbane tops the list with more than 3,500 motor vehicle thefts in 2021 - more than 1,000 thefts compared to second placed Gold Coast.
New South Wales (NSW) had the lowest figures for average theft rate per 1,000 vehicles, with only 1.8, followed by Tasmania with 2.1 and South Australia with 2.3.
According to multiple class-action lawsuits filed last year, 2011-2021 model year Kias and Hyundais without immobilizers—identifiable by their keyed ignitions—are prime targets. Owners with push-button start needn't worry so much, as their vehicles came standard with this theft-prevention measure.
“The reason brightly colored vehicles like white and yellow cars are less likely to be involved in an accident is the same reason they're less likely to be stolen: visibility,” explains Jake McKenzie, Content Manager at Auto Accessories Garage.
“These numbers tell us that some vehicles may be targeted because they're fast or worth a lot of money and others because they're easy to steal.” Many 2015-19 Hyundai and Kia vehicles lack electronic immobilizers that prevent thieves from simply breaking in and bypassing the ignition.
Only cars with a keyless entry system can be stolen using so called “relay” equipment. Keyless entry cars allow the driver to unlock and start the car with the key fob still in their pocket. Once in the car, the driver can press a button to start the engine.
Granted, a lot of the car nabbing has to do with taking parts of cars, however, BMW car models tend to be on the safer side. For example, the BMW 3 Series is the least stolen vehicle in the US according to data by the Highway Loss Data Institute.
Having a car stolen can be stressful, inconvenient and costly. Many think it will not happen to them but around one in every 120 Australian homes fall victim to car criminals each year.
MUARC's determination is that white is the safest vehicle color. Why? In all types of weather and lighting, the visibility of a white vehicle rates much higher, particularly at night. In fact, the study showed there is a 12 percent less chance of accident involvement in a white car than a black one.
Make your car harder to steal by adding a steering wheel lock, tire lock, or brake lock—or all three. You can also install a hidden kill switch to confuse anyone who tries to steal your car. They're likely to give up when the car won't turn on.
The Chevrolet Silverado will be the most stolen car in 2023, with a 48% theft rate. The US car market has constantly changed over the last two decades, but car thieves remain. Silverado is one of the most targeted cars to steal because of its popularity and abundant supply.
When the key is deactivated there is no way for a thief to gain access to the vehicle. However, when the key is activated, thieves can still take the car. Keyless cars do seem to be much easier to steal than those that have a regular key.
As Queensland grapples with a youth crime crisis, the sunshine state has also been crowned the car theft capital of Australia. In fact, 12.4% of Queensland adults surveyed by the comparison site revealed they've been the victim of a car theft, compared to just 5.7% of South Australians and 9.5% of Western Australians.
Most are stolen for joyriding and often end up being torched to destroy evidence. Some get broken up for resale of parts. Vehicles are typically worth six to eight times more in parts than a whole vehicle. Some vehicles are stolen for re-birthing, while exotic vehicles may be stolen to order for re-birthing.
Stealing a motor vehicle or vessel is an offence under section 154F of the Crimes Act 1900 which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.