NSW police car stolen from senior officer’s Sydney home

One of NSW’s highest-ranking police officers left his unmarked police car unlocked out the front of his house before it was stolen.

One of New South Wales’ most senior police officers has been given a talking-to after an unmarked police car he left unlocked was stolen from the front of his Sutherland Shire home in late April.

The taking of Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy’s four-wheel drive, equipped with flashing blue and red lights on the dashboard and sirens, led to questioning of NSW commissioner Mick Fuller in NSW Parliament last month.

Mr Fuller was probed by NSW Shooters’ Fishers and Farmers leader Robert Borsak about how the car’s security system could have been breached and asked whether firearms, handcuffs or other restricted equipment were inside the vehicle.

While a Hansard response filed last week stated “articles of police uniform and documents were in the vehicle”, a report from The Daily Telegraph when the theft first occurred said no weapons had been left inside by Mr Loy.

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NSW Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy had his unmarked police 4WD stolen at his home in the Sutherland Shire in late April. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

The items were later recovered in a police investigation.

However, Greens MP David Shoebridge told the ABC he had further questions over the sensitive items left in the car, particularly the documents.

“Obviously, those falling into the wrong hands is a very real concern,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“And the need for a Deputy Commissioner to keep essential police equipment and police information secure. I think that’s the biggest concern going forward.”

The Hansard response also confirmed while the car was left unlocked, its windows were closed.

According to road laws in NSW, it is an offence to leave a parked car unlocked on a public road with its windows down or with keys in the ignition – with a fine for any proven breaches up to $2200.

Because the car was parked on his private property, however, he was not in breach of any traffic offences, a police spokesman said.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has “officially spoken” to Deputy Commissioner Loy over the matter. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

He said Mr Fuller had already raised the security breach with his deputy.

“Deputy Commissioner Loy has been officially spoken to by Commissioner Fuller in relation to the matter and obviously understands his obligations in respect to the security of his police vehicle.”

Police whistleblower and transparency campaigner Richard McDonald, however, has urged NSW Police to reveal more about the theft, particularly whether the Mr Loy’s keys were poorly secured.

Mr McDonald, a former police officer, told ABC junior police officers would have faced serious consequences for failing to follow security procedures.

“If a rank-and-file police officer left a police vehicle unlocked and that car was stolen, I would certainly expect that that police officer would be subject to the full wrath of the professional standards command,” he said.

NSW Police sources said the investigation into the theft is ongoing. It is understood several other cars in Mr Loy’s street were targeted on the same night.