Most Stolen Car Make and Model Revealed.
In what appears to be a major breakthrough for law enforcement, Operation Trinity in Victoria has yielded impressive results in tackling car theft offences, leading to a significant drop in weekly burglary-related car thefts. The operation, initiated on March 25, 2023, has made 1,466 arrests, with a remarkable focus on curbing car thefts and burglaries.
Out of these arrests, 370 were directly linked to burglaries and car thefts, while an additional 1,096 individuals were apprehended for various crimes, including drug offenses. Over the past ten weeks, police have made 432 visits to known offenders, leading to 45 breaches of bail.
Before Operation Trinity, the weekly average for burglaries leading to car thefts was approximately 30 incidents. However, police say this number has reduced to an average of 18 incidents per week due to the operation. Importantly, it has been revealed that most of these offences are driven by youth networked offenders, although the majority have no formal connections to known gangs.
Notably, Wyndham City finds itself in the spotlight, ranking as the fourth Local Government Area (LGA) on the top ten list for car theft offences in 2022. This revelation raises concerns within the community about the security of their vehicles and homes.
Wyndham City Ranks 4th for Car Theft Offences
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The data also highlights the alarming trend of youth recidivism in car thefts. Several teenagers, some as young as 13, have been arrested multiple times for offences like burglary, aggravated burglary, and theft of motor vehicles, indicating a persistent challenge for law enforcement. One record details a 13-year-old boy arrested 30 times since 2022.
According to Crime Statistics Agency data for the twelve months leading up to December 2022, there were 16,290 car theft offences in 2022, marking an 18.8% decrease from the pre-pandemic numbers in 2019. However, despite this decrease, the recovery rate of stolen vehicles reported by Victoria Police remains impressive at 76.6%.
The Holden Commodore is the most stolen car.
The report identifies luxury car thefts as an increasing concern, with BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, and Audi all experiencing rising theft rates over the years. Additionally, the top ten makes/models stolen in 2022 feature the Holden Commodore at the number one spot, followed by Ford Falcon, Toyota Corolla, and Toyota Hilux.
Among the top ten LGAs with the highest car theft offences in 2022, Melbourne (CBD) takes the lead with 973 incidents, followed by Hume, Casey, and Wyndham City at the fourth position with 760 incidents. This underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures in these areas.
While Operation Trinity has made significant strides in curbing car theft offences in Victoria, authorities continue to address this issue with a focus on youth offenders and areas with high offence rates. Residents, especially in the top-ten-offence LGAs, are urged to take proactive measures to protect their vehicles and property.
