Car thieves waiting at Victorian servos to steal unlocked vehicles

THIEVES are lying in wait at petrol stations before making off with unlocked cars, with two in five vehicles stolen in Victoria having no sign of forced entry. SEE THE HOTSPOTS.

CUNNING thieves are lying in wait at petrol stations before making off with unwitting customers’ unlocked cars.

Only a handful of cases were reported but police stress they could be easily prevented. They say cars are also being left unlocked outside homes, schools and even at the shops.

Figures compiled for the Sunday Herald Sun reveal two in five vehicles stolen in Victoria have no visible sign of forced entry.

VICTORIA CAR THEFT CRACKDOWN: GPS TRACKERS TO BE HIDDEN IN VEHICLES

Insp Mick Daly said unlocked cars at petrol outlets were an easy target for thieves, with vehicles often used in other crimes including burglaries and armed robberies.

“It only takes a split second for someone to be walking past and see the keys or actually laying in wait hoping for that opportunity,’’ Insp Daly said.

“It’s just so simple for someone to steal your car if you give them the opportunity when you let your guard down.”

Vehicles left running as parents walked their children to the school gate or as delivery drivers left packages at homes were also common targets.

“No matter how short of a period you are away from your car, don’t leave the keys in it,’’ Insp Daly said.

Paul de Castella, 85, had his car stolen from a Preston petrol outlet as he was inflating the tyres. Picture: Jay Town

“It only takes a matter of seconds for someone to jump into your car and drive off.

“Whether you’re getting out of the car to run into the shop, getting out of your car to drop your kid at school or filling up with petrol someone could be watching you and just waiting for that opportunity.”

Retiree Paul de Castella’s Honda Jazz was stolen from a Preston Shell outlet in June this year while he was inflating its tyres, even after he hid the keys under the driver’s seat.

Mr de Castella, 85, couldn’t believe the thief was so brazen. “I turned around and there was somebody in my car driving backwards,’’ he said.

The car — a birthday gift from Mr de Castella’s daughter and son-in-law — was used to rack up speeding fines at Dallas and Broadmeadows. It was recovered six weeks later in Bendigo.

Crime Statistics Agency figures show 4279 of the 9945 vehicles stolen statewide in the year to June had no visible sign of forced entry.

Casey, Hume, Greater Dandenong, Greater Geelong, Whittlesea and Darebin ranked among local government areas with the most vehicles stolen without visible force.

It can include unlocked cars but also incidents where keys were taken, such as during a burglary, and used to steal a vehicle.

Statewide, about 1400 vehicles were stolen through forcing the ignition, 1100 via a forced lock and 950 via a smashed window.