The Most Stolen Cars in Australia

[csv8]

As inconspicuous as your car may be, it’s probably not theft-proof. Common Commodores do get stolen. And those doing the thieving have been working on them for years.

However, according to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, plenty of other models are attractive through the night-vision goggles of opportunistic thieves.

The Council monitors the most stolen cars in Australia and found 45,764 passenger and light commercial vehicles were reported stolen in the 2012–13 financial year.

The good news? Theft is down. That’s the lowest number of thefts in a 12-month period since the 1970s. The bad news? Any car looks to be fair game.

The top three most stolen cars (for joy-riding) ranged from the compactish Hyundai Excel X3 to the more muscular Holden Commodore VT and VE.

When it came to thieves wanting to turn a profit, they also went for the Holden Commodore VT and VX. But tradesmen, surfers and fishermen beware! The Toyota Hilux was popular too, coming in second place.

If it’s true “you’re either a Ford or Holden man”, then team Ford is probably feeling pretty smug about now. However, don’t speak too soon. Both the Ford Falcon BA and AU are popular choices for joyriding, as getaway cars or plain ol’ illegal commuting. The Falcon BA also makes an appearance as the 10th most popular car for turning a profit.

Things could be grimmer if you were overseas. In the UK these lists often look more like a luxury-car showroom. Porsches, Volkswagens, Subarus, Audis, Mercedes-Benzes, Range Rovers and BMWs appear on the lists.

Luckily too, Australians have more chance of finding their cars in their home country. German cars aren’t so lucky. Pinched German vehicles show up at various points around Eastern Europe. Poland is one common endpoint, less than 100 km from Berlin.

Locally, upmarket German vehicles are often least susceptible to theft, according to the Council. This includes the Audi A4 and VW’s Passat, Tiguan, Polo and Golf.

If you can’t afford one of those luxury cars, then the vehicles listed below would be of interest – they’re among those stolen every 10 minutes in Australia.
Most stolen cars in Australia (short term):

Hyundai Excel X3
Holden Commodore VT
Holden Commodore VE
Toyota Hilux MY05_11
Holden Commodore VN
Ford Falcon BA
Ford Falcon AU
Holden Commodore VX
Holden Commodore VS
Toyota Camry SV21

Most stolen cars in Australia (for profit):

Holden Commodore VT
Toyota Hilux MY98_04
Holden Commodore VX
Holden Commodore VE
Toyota Hilux MY89_97
Toyota Hilux MY05_11
Holden Commodore VY
Holden Commodore VS
Hyundai Excel X3
Ford Falcon BA
http://www.live4.com.au/auto/the-mos...campaign=live4

[BHDOGS]

Go you mighty Eseries falcon my eb with no club lock and broken door locks that open with any pointy item is still going strong!

[1TUFFUTE]

When I saw the Toyota CAMRY on the list...a bit of spew came up


Why...just why??

[AndyXR6T]

How can you make a "profit" on a VT/VX commodore? :S

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by AndyXR6T

How can you make a "profit" on a VT/VX commodore? :S

Getting it for free is a good start!

[russellw]

They really must be breeding a different type of joyrider these days when a Camry can make it on to the lists. Bet that one builds their street cred no end.

With a vehicle fleet (passenger and light commercial) of about 14.3 million in 2013 that translates to 0.32% of the fleet stolen or a roughly 1 in 31,300 chance of having your car nicked.

Cheers
Russ

[XBROO]

Originally Posted by AndyXR6T

How can you make a "profit" on a VT/VX commodore? :S

Stripping them and selling them in parts. As they are at the age where they will be needing parts and a lot of people have them. So they sell the parts cheaper then the wreckers, because they didn't cost them nothing. And there you go an easy profit.

[2011G6E]

People steal what's common. There's a lot of VT/X Commodores around, and an afternoon in a wreckers yard would show young thieves how to get into one. It's also worth noting most of these are still vehicles that had immobilisers fitted as part of the ignition system, so don't get complacent.

The "spare parts" is probably where most of them end up...too hard to "rebirth" a car nowadays with better record keeping, and you would make far more money stripping it for parts and selling it off that way...also attract less attention.

[mechanic]

While working in a workshop in Kununurra I had to pick up a Commodore that had been ripped off by 2 very young teenagers. Dropped it off at the panel beaters inside their " security " fence.
2 or 3 days later got a call to go and pick it up again, stolen again by the same 2 little rascals.

I live in Edmonton [ not a suburb to be complacent ] near Cairns now and keep steering wheel locks on both my vehicles wherever we go.
Some people are just careless, leaving your car run with AC on while you duck into the PO or local store is just asking for trouble regardless of vehicle make.

[AndyXR6T]

Originally Posted by XBROO

Stripping them and selling them in parts. As they are at the age where they will be needing parts and a lot of people have them. So they sell the parts cheaper then the wreckers, because they didn't cost them nothing. And there you go an easy profit.

You are spot on mate but I was trying to take a stab at the fact that it's a 'Vt commodore' and they can't be worth much lol

[cheap]

Why so many Toyota Hilux?

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by cheap

Why so many Toyota Hilux?

To keep them going.. Don't believe everything you see on Top Gear. !!

[XBROO]

Originally Posted by cheap

Why so many Toyota Hilux?

Have you seen the price of genuine Toyota parts?

[Franco Cozzo]

Surprised that no E series Falcons have appeared on the list, that junk Smartlock **** will only keep you from starting your own car when it plays up lol.

[_Ben]

No skylines or Silvias? A ridiculous amount get stolen in the Gold Coast to Brisbane area.

[ZGM86]

Am surprised that 90s Imprezas/Rexes aren't on that list.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by ZGM86

Am surprised that 90s Imprezas/Rexes aren't on that list.

Wasn't the wrx the most stolen car in Australia in the late 90s or something?

[HULK_I6T]

Are these vehicles being driven away? Or do they need the keys?

[nstg8a]

A lot of new vehicles are stolen after a burglary, crackhead breaks into the family home, sees the keys sitting on the table and whoila, that brand new merc with its uber fancy anti theft technology is disappearing down the road faster than you would believe

[XBROO]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

A lot of new vehicles are stolen after a burglary, crackhead breaks into the family home, sees the keys sitting on the table and whoila, that brand new merc with its uber fancy anti theft technology is disappearing down the road faster than you would believe

Yep and also a good way to transport all the stuff, they've just stolen from the house.

[GK]

Originally Posted by russellw

They really must be breeding a different type of joyrider these days when a Camry can make it on to the lists. Bet that one builds their street cred no end.

Cheers
Russ

I can just hear the conversation.
"I just stole another Camry man!"
"Oh Damien, you live so on the edge! Make sure you take me along next time!"
"Sure thing Lionel."

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

When I saw the Toyota CAMRY on the list...a bit of spew came up

Why...just why??

Cracked me up!

GK

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by russellw

They really must be breeding a different type of joyrider these days when a Camry can make it on to the lists. Bet that one builds their street cred no end.

At least here, I don't think they care...seen all manner of cars stolen. And 90% of them are the result of a Break & enter, taking the keys and going for a squirt.

[Evgeni]

Speaking of a new generation of car thieves, here is a story out of the US that will make you smile.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-Corvette.html

[vbvbvb088]

I had a VB Commodore stolen three times. Each time the Police caught the culprit. It was from a an station near Heidelberg station.

[BPXR6T]

Only fonzy can steal my car. Unless you punch it in just the right way it won't start...

[93EB_SXR6]

Yeah my Hyundai Excel was stolen...

[EgoFG]

Originally Posted by vbvbvb088

I had a VB Commodore stolen three times. Each time the Police caught the culprit. It was from a an station near Heidelberg station.

um .... "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"

I trust you switched to Ford - or parked somewhere else.

My brother had his stereo stolen 4 times from his car in a locked garage (Miranda NSW)

[MITCHAY]

And all of those cars are common. Last thing you want to do is steal a car that sticks out.

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Wasn't the wrx the most stolen car in Australia in the late 90s or something?

It was one of them but after they fitted them with PIN code immobilizer with anti-hijack and DataDots it dropped dramatically. Not likely to get flogged by your average scumbag or joyrider.

Plus these days the Commodore and Falcon are plenty quick enough as a getaway.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by 93EB_SXR6

Yeah my Hyundai Excel was stolen...

Geesh... I'd rather not report it stolen than to admit I own one.

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by AndyXR6T

How can you make a "profit" on a VT/VX commodore? :S

'cause the people who own them are paying that someone to steal it.