Police cracking down on second-hand car scam as new statistics reveal the worst Adelaide suburbs to have your car broken into or stolen — explore the data
Police have warned about a cunning new tactic crooks are using to steal second-hand cars as new statistics reveal the worst SA suburbs for car break-ins and thefts. Explore the data for your suburb.
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Detectives are cracking down on an emerging trend of fraudsters buying second-hand cars with fake bank transfer receipts.
Earlier this year, SA Police launched Operation Fusion to tackle new crime swings.
An SA Police spokeswoman said as a result, detectives were investigating a recent crime series involving the cross-border theft of motor vehicles by way of deception.
Offences have occurred across metropolitan Adelaide and regional SA.
Police say victims, who have advertised their vehicles online, are contacted by the crooked buyer who arranges a meeting to complete the purchase.
“During the meeting the suspects have produced false electronic bank transfer receipts to convince the victim that payment has been made,” the spokeswoman said.
“The victim then transfers ownership of the vehicle, not realising that funds have failed to arrive into their accounts.”
Investigations are ongoing and exact details of the offences remain secret, but SA Police said “a number of suspects have been identified and arrests have been made”.
The news comes as The Advertiser releases new data revealing the worst suburbs for having your car broken into or stolen, with Hindmarsh showing it has one of the highest per capita rates. Explore the latest crime data for your suburb below.
Data for the 2019/20 year showed inner-city Hindmarsh, with a population of just under 250, had one of the worst rates for car break-ins.
There were 34 offences categorised as “theft from motor vehicle”.
Adelaide, Mawson Lakes and Prospect were the three worst postcodes for overall offences – but the per capita rate was relatively low.
The numbers showed Dry Creek, Noarlunga Centre and Elizabeth all had high per capita rates for car thefts.
Crime Stoppers SA chairwoman Sharon Hanlon said seven out of 10 cars were stolen with their keys.
“Thieves (are) increasingly entering the home of a victim to take the keys because improved immobiliser technology has made it much harder to steal vehicles straight off the street,” she said.
Redwood Park man Chris Burgon boosted his home’s security after thieves broke into his car on Saturday, October 3, and stole his work tools.
Mr Burgon, who works in security himself, said he was left shocked and in disbelief as everything in the car had been stolen.