Australians have been urged to enhance their vehicle safety measures amid a rising number of car thefts nationwide.
Latest figures reveal that 65,603 victims of motor vehicle theft were recorded in Australia in 2024, an increase of 8 per cent (4,604 victims) from the previous year.
Founder of security company Sentriwise, Jing Kan Jackson, told Yahoo News that motor theft incidents are increasingly technology-driven.
She said most Aussies still aren’t aware of how exposed their vehicles and homes are to potential thieves.
Sentriwise recommends Faraday pouches or modern steering locks for added vehicle protection. Source: Sentriwise
“A lot of people assume their keys are safe simply because they’re inside the house, but criminals are now using relay devices and key cloning technology to steal signals remotely, sometimes from directly outside someone’s front door,” Jing said.
Nationally, motor theft claims increased by 11 per cent in the 12 months to June 2025, reaching about 30,000 claims worth $466 million, according to Insurance Statistics Australia.
Jing revealed a recent incident in which someone attempted to steal a customer’s vehicle from their home in a prestigious Sydney suburb.
Do you have a story on how your car was stolen? Contact preston.potts@yahooinc.com
Victoria leads the country in car theft. Source: Getty Images
“A group of four thieves allegedly broke into the car and then tried to enter the house, seemingly to get close enough to the keys to complete the theft — though of course, once inside, there is no knowing what else they may have taken.
“Fortunately, the customer’s security camera detected movement outside and alerted him in time. He was able to scare the group away before they gained access to the home.
“He has since purchased a Faraday box and steering wheel lock to add extra layers of protection at home!”
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Better protection will make your vehicle a harder target
Jing said incidents like this are why having an additional layer of vehicle protection is important.
“Faraday products help block key signals at home, steering wheel locks create a visible deterrent, and OBD locks help prevent cloned keys from being programmed into the vehicle. No single product is a silver bullet, but layered security can make your car a much harder target,” she stressed.
Sentriwise has seen a huge jump in sales, with a 96 per cent increase in signal-blocking Faraday pouch sales and a 300 per cent increase in signal-blocking Faraday boxes in the last week.
Victoria was the worst state for car theft in 2024, with 22,504 victims, a 41 per cent increase on the previous year.
Queensland had 17,493 motor vehicle theft victims, NSW 12,319, Western Australia 5,653, South Australia 3,479, Tasmania 1,493, and the ACT 920.
Motor theft incidents a regular occurrence in Melbourne
Meanwhile, a man took to TikTok earlier this month to reveal that his Mazda was broken into in Melbourne’s east at Ringwood Station.
After paying $6.50 at the car park, he returned to find that his lock had been smashed and his electronics stolen. Thankfully, he had a steering wheel lock installed, stopping the thieves from driving away in the car.
Most motor vehicle thefts in Victoria occur in Melbourne, with claims in the year to June, 2025 up 70 per cent and costs soaring 80 per cent. There were 10,000 claims worth $183 million, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
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