Calls for police taskforce as Geelong thieves target Holden VF models

An “out of control” spate of Holden thefts has car owners calling for police to take action. SEE THE FOOTAGE.

An “out of control” spate of Holden thefts across the Geelong region is leaving drivers feeling “disgusted”, with one victim calling for police to set up a special task-force.

Since the start of December, at least 14 Holden VFs have been stolen between Corio and Torquay.

St Leonards woman Jan Targa was attending bingo at Raider’s in Breakwater on January 12 when her brazen thieves stole her Holden commodore from was a carpark when it was still light outside.

CCTV footage reveals a car stop in front of the parked Holden before someone gets out and breaks into the car.

Both cars make a swift getaway, with the incident unfolding in less than two minutes.

“I have sympathy for the police, there’s a lot of crime a lot more important than stolen cars …but I just don’t understand how so many be taken and nothing been done,” Ms Targa said.

With the help of her son and online tip offs, Ms Targa located her car being driven around numerous areas including North Geelong and Corio.

“I’ve been ringing police with tips, sightings, with the new number plates, and not once have I heard anything,” she said.

Ms Targa has been reunited with her Commodore after archaeologists digging in Armstrong Creek noticed the vehicle, which was in a shed for days.

They checked the plates and, once they saw it was registered as stolen, found Ms Targa through Facebook.

Thieves are targeting VFs — which include the Commodore, Maloo, and Calais models made between 2013 and 2017 —as they are considered easy to break into.

The door lock can be forced with a simple screwdriver and the alarm can be turned off by cutting the horn wire.

A tool found on eBay that can reprogram keys by accessing the vehicle’s diagnostic system is also making it harder for owners to retrieve their car.

Torquay’s Brad Young woke up on January 7 to find his Holden VF ute was no longer parked out the front of his house.

“I had the keys inside the house but (the thieves) didn’t need them,” Mr Young said.

“It’s incredibly frustrating.”

“(The cars have) always been desirable; the VF is the last of the true Aussie V8s.

“At this rate, there’ll be none left by June … it’s out of control.”

Brad Young, pictured with the keys to his stolen Holden VF ute, said the thefts are “out of control.” Picture: Mark Wilson

According to Crime Statistics Agency, 57 Holden Commodores were stolen in Geelong, Golden Plains, and Surf Coast regions between October 2023 and September 2024.

Mr Young has since seen his ute being driven in Corio online.

“The guy was driving it like a lunatic,” he said.

“There needs to be a taskforce set up by Victoria Police, and insurance companies and VicRoads need to get on board and notify all owners of these particular cars as to how easy they are to steal and that they’ve been heavily targeted.”

A Victoria Police spokesman said local officers continued to target car thieves nightly, with targeted patrols of known hotspots.

The spokesman said vehicle owners were strongly urged to be proactive in the face of “opportunist” car thieves.

“Victoria Police encourages vehicle owners to always lock their cars and park off the street if possible,” he said.

“Basic vehicle security measures are key to protecting yourself and your property.”

Police were contacted for comment regarding the Breakwater and Torquay incidents.

Originally published as Calls for police taskforce as Geelong thieves target Holden VF models