Vehicle theft in NSW at highest point in six years

[FairmontGS]

Vehicle theft in NSW at highest point in six years

Motor vehicle theft in NSW is at its highest point in six years due to a post COVID-19 crime 'bounce-back' and the promotion of theft over social media platforms such as TikTok.

As with many other property crimes, vehicle theft has fallen dramatically over the past two decades.

Executive Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Jackie Fitzgerald said the recent jump in vehicle theft can be attributed to a 'bounce-back' from the COVID-driven crime declines of 2020 and 2021 as pandemic restrictions eased.

"Another factor, however, may be young people being spurred on by social media posts encouraging vehicle thefts on TikTok," she said.

The research report cited a number of media reports, trending social media hashtags and police officials noting the trend.

Examples included a video uploaded on TikTok with hashtags #creepingwhileyouresleeping; #lockitorloseit; #pursuit appearing to show young people joyriding at speeds of up to 200km/h in Dubbo NSW.

Another observed hashtag #KiaChallenge was also thought to be promoting the trend where videos appearing on TikTok and other social media channels appeared to show how to steal cars that had been manufactured without push button ignitions and immobilising anti-theft devices.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sto...-in-six-years/

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https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...ck/203803.html

or this