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Watch that car |
It used to be that the majority of stolen cars were pinched by small time criminals hell bent on a joyride. And while this is still the case, there is an emerging breed of car thieves who have taken car theft to a whole new level.
In addition to stealing cars and stripping them of parts, these inventive thieves are part of larger crime gangs that use stolen cars to supplement their criminal activity.
It's no wonder police in Australia have labelled car theft a truly dynamic crime.
In Australia, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) estimates that a car is stolen every six minutes. That's almost 85,000 cars each year, making our theft rate one of the highest in the western world.
The majority of stolen cars are taken by opportunistic thieves who want a pair of wheels. It's not uncommon for these cars to be used to commit other crimes or be involved in street drags or accidents.
But the new breed of professional car thief has more sinister motives. When these thieves see cars, they see big dollar signs and don't care what they have to do to cash in.
This can range from insurance fraud – using stolen cars in staged accidents, to rebirthing stolen cars and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. Rebirthing or ghosting involves swapping the identification plates from legitimate wrecked cars with those of stolen cars to mask their identity.
And if that's not enough, Detective Sergeant Gerry Bashford of Victoria Police's Organised Motor Vehicle Theft Squad says that stolen cars are also being used as payments in drug deals and are being shipped overseas where they often end up in the hands of terrorists.
He says that vehicles and their parts are often used as currency in major drug deals (particularly vehicles that are shipped overseas) in order to avoid large transfers of money.
Stolen cars are also used by international terrorist groups to replace vehicles destroyed in conflict and to provide untraceable material for car bombs.
The NMVTRC is a joint initiative of all Australian governments and the insurance industry that is working to reduce the level of vehicle theft in Australia. The Council estimates that the annual cost of car theft is more than $1 billion a year.
"This figure includes more than just the cost of repairing or replacing the stolen cars," says Warren Lockett, Australian Unity's Group Executive – General Insurance.
"It also includes all the associated costs the community has to bear through increased insurance premiums, policing and the extra demands placed on our criminal justice system."
So what can we do to deter car thieves?
The NMVTRC is implementing a national program of reforms aimed at the public and private sector to address the flaws that has previously allowed car theft to flourish in Australia.
But they can't do it alone. Motorists need to ensure they do their part to keep their cars safe. So to help you keep your car safe from thieves, here are some handy tips from the NMVTRC.
Don't assume
Most people with older cars often assume that no one will want their old 'bomb'. In reality, NMVTRC says that more than 65 percent of stolen cars were manufactured before 1990. And the reason these cars are so attractive to thieves? They're easy to get into. A coat hanger and a screwdriver may be all any car thief needs to be able to hotwire and make off with your car.
Lock your car
It might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised by how many people leave their car doors open and keys in the ignition when paying for petrol or while their car is in their driveway. The NMVTRC says many cars are stolen from petrol stations, corner stores and driveways where the owner has left their car, with the key in the ignition, sometimes for less than a minute.
Protect your keys
Don't leave your keys lying around. If a thief can see your keys, chances are, they can figure out a way to steal them and your car. It's a good idea to keep your keys in a safe place. And never keep a spare set of keys in your car. Also avoid keeping details of your car (make, model, registration number) with your keys.
Park wisely
Your driveway or locked garage is the safest place for your car. Parking on the street increases the risk of theft, but if you don't have a driveway, make sure you park your car in a well-lit area.
If you're out for the day, try parking your car in a secure car park. And if you have to leave your car keys behind, remember to ask the operator how your keys will be secured.
Remove temptation
Theft from cars is almost as common as theft of cars. So make sure you don't leave valuables like mobile phones, CDs or GPS systems in your car. And if you can't take your valuables with you, make sure they are well hidden.
Added security
Always remove your keys and lock your car doors and windows when you're not in it. And if you've got a steering lock or car alarm, make sure you use it.
The NMVTRC also recommends that motorists install an engine immobiliser in their car.
An immobiliser is an electronic device that will interrupt the power supply to the cars engine unless the correct electronic signal is provided via the ignition key.
Most new cars come with an immobiliser as standard and they can also be fitted into older cars. At present these are the most effective vehicle security device on the market. Figures from Immobilise Now!, an initiative of the NMVTRC, show that only 7 percent of cars with an immobiliser end up stolen and in most cases this occurs because the owner has left their keys in the car or in an accessible spot.
Other security devices include a fuel/ignition cut out switch, ignition shield and battery isolator.
Connect the dots
The use of DataDots is another way to reduce the risk of theft and make identification of your car easier, in the event that it does get stolen.
The DataDot system involves laser etching between 1000 and 10,000 unique vehicle identification numbers or personal identification numbers all over your car. What's more, DataDots are so small they are only visible under magnification and ultraviolet light. This makes it harder for thieves to remove these numbers and easier for police to identify owners once they're recovered the stolen car.
Top 10
Australian Hotspots#
|
| Rank |
Suburb |
Claims
Frequency |
| 1 |
Bankstown, NSW |
154 |
| 2 |
Blacktown, NSW |
134 |
| 3 |
Melbourne, VIC |
154 |
| 4 |
Liverpool, NSW |
119 |
| 5 |
Penrith, NSW |
117 |
| 6 |
Campbelltown, NSW |
109 |
| 7 |
Sydney, NSW |
106 |
| 8 |
Parramatta, NSW |
102 |
| 9 |
Merrylands, NSW |
97 |
| 10 |
Merrylands, NSW |
79 |
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10 Most
Targeted Cars in 2006^
|
| Rank |
Make/Model/Series |
| 1 |
Holden Commodore VN |
| 2 |
Holden Commodore VL |
| 3 |
Ford Falcon EA |
| 4 |
Hyandai Excel X3 |
| 5 |
Toyota Corolla |
| 6 |
Ford Falcon XF |
| 7 |
Toyota Camry |
| 8 |
Holden Commodore VK |
| 9 |
Toyota Tarago YR22 |
| 10 |
Holden Commodore VT |
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