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September 26, 2023

ABS data confirms motor vehicle theft in Australia soared for second year in a row, increasing by 11 per cent in 2022(SKY NEWS LIVE)

Adriana Mageros

New data has revealed motor vehicle theft across Australia has increased by 11 per cent.

Recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show three specific types of property crimes soared for a second year in a row in 2022.

Out of that data set, released by the ABS on Thursday, victims of motor vehicle theft reached 55,037 last year.

The number of burglaries recorded by police also increased by nine per cent, hitting 151,200.

Recent ABS data has revealed the number of motor vehicle thefts had increased by 11 per cent in 2022. Picture: Getty Images.Other stealing offences including retail theft rose by eight per cent, with police recording 475,725 incidents in total.

In the ABS data, a victim could be a person, premises, organisation or vehicle depending on the situation. All incidents were also recorded by police.

ABS chief of crime and justice statistics William Milne said while the number of property crimes had increased in recent times, the figures were still lower than 2019.

“Victims of property crimes dropped to a record low in 2020, coinciding with the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions," Mr Milne said in a statement.

"Over the past two years, the numbers of recorded victims have been coming back up but are still lower than in 2019."

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ABS confirmed the number of property crimes recorded in 2022 were "notably higher" than 2021, which averaged between one to four per cent.

The statistics follow the number of car thefts reaching a record 10-year-high in Queensland, with police issuing a fresh plea to motorists to take extra care when securing vehicles.

According to recent data from Queensland Police, at least 55 cars are stolen each day across the state.

On Wednesday, police issued a statement urging motorists to properly secure their vehicles, particularly service logbooks, amid the spike in carjackings.

Police investigations have revealed that offenders are often targeting vehicle logbooks when breaking into cars as the book contain a significant amount of information.

Depending on the logbook, some of the details can even be used to obtain a duplicate set of keys for the vehicle, police explained.

Senior Sergeant Bruce Tracey said further analysis shows that break ins tend to happen when cars are left unsecured while parked on the street, or in a driveway.

“Most people don’t realise the large amount of information that is contained in log/service books and that it can greatly assist an offender to steal a vehicle," he said in a statement.

As a safety precaution, police advise motorists to secure their service logbooks away from the vehicle.

Designed by Bob Lycoudis
NPM. VPM. Police Prosecutor. Sergeant Victoria Police (Retired) Inventor, Coplock Designer, Car Theft Researcher
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