‘Opportunistic thieves’: Queensland car thefts remain on the rise

New data has revealed Queensland’s worst stolen car hot spots, with one region reporting a 72 per cent increase over last year. SEARCH THE TABLE

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A major Queensland insurer has recorded a 10 per cent increase in stolen cars with new data revealing central and southeast regions of the state are theft hot spots.

Motoring body and insurer RACQ received 1760 claims for stolen vehicles across the state last financial year, a 10 per cent more than the previous year. 

The data revealed Fitzroy in central Queensland experienced the biggest jump in car theft claims, up by 72 per cent, followed by Logan, with a 37 per cent increase.

Despite experiencing a 16.5 per cent decrease from the previous year, the Gold Coast still had the highest number of car theft claims by volume with 182 claims.

Chief Executive Insurance Trent Sayers said car theft remains a key issue in Queensland. 

“RACQ Insurance alone has seen a 10 per cent increase in car theft claims over the past year, with Townsville, Cairns and Brisbane’s inner city experiencing the highest frequency of stolen vehicles,” Mr Sayers said.

“According to insurance claims data, one in three vehicles was stolen between 1am – 4am, and more incidents occurred on the weekend than any other day of the week.

“Unsurprisingly, our research also found more than half of Queenslanders are aware of rising car thefts in their area or nearby, and of those, 40 per cent are very concerned about the growing risk.”

Mr Sayers encouraged vehicle owners to stay alert and take precautions to protect their vehicles.

“Queenslanders must keep security in mind when parking their cars, particularly overnight,” he said.

“When possible, park your car in a locked garage or gated driveway and lock your car, even when it’s in a secure location.

“If a secure location isn’t an option, park in a well-lit populated area and remove any valuables from your vehicle to ensure thieves aren’t tempted.”

According to the data, the Toyota HiLux, Toyota LandCruiser and Toyota Corolla were the most stolen vehicles, with older aged vehicles tending to be the target for thieves.

“Older vehicles tend to be popular with thieves as many aren’t fitted with immobilisers and they are also easy to dispose of as parts or re-identify and sell,” Mr Sayers said.

“For vehicles with modern security features, accessing the keys is the most common method of theft.”

The Toyota HiLux is one of the most stolen vehicles in Queensland. Picture: Joshua Dowling.

Mr Sayers said drivers are urged to keep their keys in a hidden location within the home, well away from entry points, so that “opportunistic thieves” cannot easily access them.

“According to our claims data, 65 per cent of the vehicles reported as stolen were recovered before the member’s claim was settled,” he said.

“Every recovered vehicle undergoes a mechanical and safety check to determine whether the vehicle can be returned to the owner, requires further repairs or is written off, with the claim outcome being communicated to the member as soon as possible.”

Mr Sayers said insurance premiums are based on the likely risk of damage and the costs associated with repairing or replacing a damaged item.

“In the case of motor insurance, a small component of this includes the risks associated with theft of the vehicle, but it’s not the overriding factor. Motor insurance premiums may be higher for areas where incidents occur more often, or repairs are more expensive,” he said.