Crime Stoppers Victoria and Victoria Police are urging Cardinia residents and all Victorians to take an active role in protecting their vehicles, as part of a new statewide campaign targeting a sharp rise in car thefts driven by thieves using new sophisticated technologies
The “Level Up Against Car Theft” campaign empowers the community with practical steps to reduce their risk of car theft and to report suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers.
The campaign responds to dramatic increases in motor vehicle crime across the state. In the year to March 2025, 31,551 vehicles were stolen in Victoria, a 47.1 per cent increase year on year. Thefts from vehicles also rose sharply, reaching 82,414 offences, a 39.3 per cent jump from the previous year.
Cardinia Shire has not been spared. The latest crime data shows that stealing from motor vehicles was the most common offence, nearly doubling from 589 to 1,149 incidents in just one year.
Pakenham recorded the highest number of criminal incidents, with 3,782 offences in the year to March 2025 up from 2,999 the year before. Officer followed with 1,169 incidents, a significant rise from 783. While Beaconsfield saw a decline, dropping to 422 from 783, other areas experienced increases. Emerald recorded 185 incidents, up from 125, and Kooweerup rose slightly to 216, up from 182.
Offenders are increasingly targeting vehicles with keyless entry and push-start systems, using devices that mimic or override factory settings. Makes such as Holdens, Toyotas and Subarus are being stolen at three to four times the rate recorded five years ago.
While police are actively pursuing offenders, vehicle owners have an important role to play in prevention. The campaign encourages the use of straightforward anti-theft items such as OBD port locks, steering wheel locks, Faraday pouches, and anti-theft number plate screws, which are small investments that can make a big difference.
Stella Smith, Chief Executive of Crime Stoppers Victoria, said vehicle crime is no longer just random or opportunistic.
“Car crime might seem like bad luck, but in many cases, it is calculated and preventable,” Smith said.
“That is why we are urging Victorians to take simple, proactive steps. Locking your car, parking in safer spots, removing valuables, and using anti-theft devices can all make a real difference.”
Victoria Police Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald, from the Vehicle Crime Squad, said police are arresting a significant number of offenders in possession of key reprogramming devices, as police intelligence shows as many as one in five of all cars are disappearing despite their owners retaining the keys – indicating the use of this technology.
“These devices are turning up more and more at search warrants, while we’ve also seen some of our most prolific youth offenders using them to steal cars that are then used to facilitate further serious offending,” Macdonald said.
“In recent times, our Operation Trinity units have caught youth offenders throwing these devices from the car moments before being arrested.
“One of the biggest concerns for police is the increasing risk created on our roads as the number of stolen cars rises.
“These vehicles are often driven at extreme speeds, and as a result, we’ve seen a sharp spike in the number of collisions involving stolen cars, with 760 in the twelve months to March 2025.
“Police are continuing to target car thieves, as well as engaging with impacted manufacturers to address these technological advances, however we also implore the community to consider how they can foil tech savvy thieves.”
Smith said Crime Stoppers provides a trusted and anonymous platform for people to share what they know.
“Every piece of information counts. Whether it is dashcam footage, CCTV footage, or crime information, your report could stop a car theft or help prevent further harm.”
“We all have a part to play,” Ms Smith said. “Let’s make it harder for car thieves to operate in Victoria.”
