Mildura revealed as one of Victoria’s biggest car theft hotspots

Mildura residents say they are fed up with the rising rate of cars being stolen and used for “dangerous” joyrides in the town, as new data reveals a concerning trend of motor vehicle theft.

Mildura has the highest rate of motor vehicle theft offences in regional Victoria and the third highest in the state. Picture: iStock

Mildura residents say they are “sick” of fearing for the security of their cars at home as motor vehicle theft reaches a 10-year high in the region.

It comes as recent data from the Crime Statistics Agency revealed Mildura had the third highest rate of recorded motor vehicle theft in the state, with offences in the area doubling since 2018.

Sunraysia farmer Dinny Gairns said he often saw groups on bikes checking the door handles of cars in suburban streets.

“Up and down San Mateo Ave in particular, the kids are riding past and checking the door handles,” he said.

“They’re usually in groups, two or three of them.”

Sunraysia farmer Dinny Gairns claims he has seen groups of youths on scooters and bikes on San Mateo Ave checking the door handles of cars. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

A Mildura man, who asked to remain anonymous, had his Ford Ranger stolen in August by a pack of brazen thieves who “dangerously” sped off and weaved through suburban roads at speeds of about 170km/h.

He said the town’s frustration with this offending had reached boiling point

“I was pulling some plants out of the back of the ute and I went out the back for two seconds and they pinched my key fob from the garage and sped off with the car,” he said.

“They were overtaking cars and driving on the wrong side of the road. It was very, very dangerous.

“Everyone sick of these guys doing this stuff.

“It’s a joke. They tell their sob stories ... but there is no excuse for it in my opinion”.

According to the Crime Statistics Agency, the state had more than 23,000 theft of motor vehicle recorded offences in the year to June 2024 — which equated to vehicle stolen nearly every 30 minutes.

Mildura has become one of the state’s biggest hotspots for motor vehicle theft. Picture: iStock

About 80 per cent of stolen cars in Mildura are recovered by police within two days.

Inspector Dave Rowe from the Mildura Investigation and Response team said addressing car theft was a “priority” for local police.

“Police in Mildura conduct patrols day and night to prevent crime, and we are continuing to arrest offenders stealing cars,” he said.

“We continue to arrest these thieves who often prey upon unlocked cars and homes, so we urge the community to ensure their property is locked at all times.”

Last week police charged four men in Mildura — a 23, 25, 26 and 40-year-old — with multiple counts of theft of motor vehicles, with the group remanded to appear in court at a later date.