Overview
- Official data shows 33,212 vehicles were stolen in Victoria in the 12 months to September 2025, with police intelligence attributing about 30 to 40 percent to key‑cloning or reprogramming devices.
- Police estimate up to 30 cars are taken each day using the technology and report seizing roughly 800 of the devices from prolific offenders in the past year.
- Toyota models with push‑button start are frequent targets, with LandCruiser thefts rising from 241 in 2024 to 863 in 2025, alongside Corolla, HiLux and RAV4, plus Holden Commodore and Subaru Impreza.
- Investigators say about 80 percent of stolen vehicles are recovered, while others are exported whole or dismantled for parts.
- Hotspots identified in 2025 included Melbourne’s CBD, Dandenong, Tarneit, and Reservoir, with new problem areas emerging in early 2026 such as Berwick, Malvern East, Clayton, and Glen Waverley; police urge OBD‑port locks and other deterrents.