Victoria car theft crackdown: GPS trackers tipped to be in 100,000 vehicles in 18 months
TRACKERS could be fitted in up to 100,000 vehicles as Victoria Police plans the next step of a game-changing move to target and catch car thieves.
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EXCLUSIVE: GPS trackers could be fitted in up to 100,000 vehicles in the next 18 months as Victoria Police plans the next step of a game-changing move to target car thieves.
A trial has begun with 1000 cars set to have the trackers fitted by February next year.
In the twelve months to December 2017, a total of 15,309 vehicles were reported stolen in Victoria, 4,066 less than the previous year.
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The estimated total retail value of all cars stolen in Victoria in the past twelve months was $152 million.
The trackers, to initially be installed in cars by selected dealerships in Melbourne’s southeast, are synchronised to a smartphone application.
With a press of a button, the car owner can use the app to set an electronic perimeter around the vehicle.
If the car is moved, the system immediately alerts the owner via email and text message.
The car owner can then alert police, who will track the stolen car in real time.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said he expected the trackers to be installed in all new cars in future.
“A car will come off the assembly line and will have a GPS tracking device fitted and Victoria Police will have the ability to immediately track the vehicle if required,” Mr Hill said.
“We will have line of sight of every vehicle across the road system that has been stolen.”
National Motor Theft Reduction Council executive director Ray Carroll said the rollout of trackers fitted to cars would quickly progress from the trial stage.
“Once we go to the second phase, signing up other tracking companies, it could expand to 50,000 very quickly,” Mr Carroll said.
“We can get from 50,000 to 100,000 within 18 months to two years.”
Many work vehicles already have trackers installed so company bosses can see where their staff members are — and that technology has already helped police catch car thieves.
On August 26, a Mazda ute was stolen in Fitzroy North.
The owner contacted police and informed them of the vehicle’s location. Police tracked the ute on the ground and in the air before the thief ditched the car in Footscray. He was arrested three minutes later.
A thief was caught in Sunshine North on October 17 after he stole a car from Heidelberg West. On that occasion, the owner was also able to track the location of the vehicle and alert police.
Mr Hill said he was confident the trackers would drive down car thefts.
“This is just the first step,” he said.
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WHY POLICE WANT GPS IN YOUR CAR
“We will test the system and provide clear evidence of the value of this technology in reducing vehicle theft.
“It is then about phase two, working with the private sector providers who already operate in Victoria — we want them to come on board and work with Victoria Police.
“Phase three will involve vehicle manufacturers having the technology installed in the fleet during production as a standard security item.”
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Police Minister Lisa Neville said: “The tracking devices are the size of about half a matchbox, which means they can be hidden anywhere on the car.
“Thieves won’t know where to look for the device, or which vehicles have the technology installed.
“Stolen vehicles are often used in more serious offences like burglaries, ram raids and drug trafficking, so this technology would have a flow on effect, and disrupt a lot of crime and criminals.”