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Latest News Archive 2004-2005
Immobilisers Impact Theft Rates The progressive introduction of higher standard immobilisers into passenger cars has impacted on their theft rates. See the October edition of Theft Matters for details. October Theft Torque includes an overview of the NMVTRC’s strategic direction for the next 12 months, a report on the potential role of smart vehicle identification in theft reduction and how U-turn youth programs are giving back to their communities. In 2000/01 almost 140,000 vehicles were reported stolen. In 2004/05 thefts were down to less than 83,000. See our latest Theft Watch for a national and state and territory wrap up of vehicle theft for the 12 months to June 2005. Please note that there has been an amendment to some of the theft rates contained in pages 2 and 3 of Theft Watch. Theft rates should read as follows:
Survey of Theft Victims, Tasmania, 2005 A survey of theft victims by Glenorchy City Council highlights the prevalence of opportunistic theft in Tasmania: older cars stolen, damaged and recovered with financial and emotional stress to the victims. The survey was conducted as part of Glenorchy's Operation Bounce Back project. Audi extends VIN-based microdots across range National Symposium on Electronic Vehicle Identification (EVI) The NMVTRC and Austroads—the national association of road management agencies—recently held a National Symposium to examine the possible applications that Electronic Vehicle Identification may play in Australia in coming years. EVI systems integrated with a vehicle’s primary electronic systems—either as original equipment or as after-market devices—are capable of securely interacting with road system management and other public and private infrastructure. The symposium secured the participation of European-based experts, Mr Oene Kerstjens and Mr Guus Wesselink, who have led the development of an EVI framework for the European Union. Participants included representatives of transport agencies, police, insurance companies from all Australian states. Ray Carroll (Executive Director NMVTRC) joined the Hon. Michelle Roberts MLA (Minister for Community Safety, WA) and Ann Russell-Brown (State Manager, Mission Australia) in congratulating graduates of the U-turn program in Perth on 3 August. A car, restored by the graduates during their time at U-turn, was presented to WA Police for donation to a victim of car theft. U-turn (WA) is funded by the NMVTRC and the Australian Government. The program is based on the NMVTRC’s best practice model for young recidivist theft offenders. Click here for more details about U-turn.
Drivers’ Perceptions of Theft
$1.5 Million a Day, Driven Away Thieves are making off with more than $1.5 million a day worth of cars in Australia every day. The NMVTRC's new Theft Matters publication uses valuation data contributed by Glass's Information Services to value the nation's stolen car fleet. Subscribe to Theft Matters here. Evaluation of Local Government Program Underway Evaluation of the NMVTRC’s local government grants program, Operation Bounce Back, is underway. The program provided grants to Councils in theft hot spots around the country to immobilise older cars and promote theft prevention messages to their communities. The evaluation will draw together details of the activities funded by each Operation Bounce Back project, compile media reports related to the projects and assess the program’s overall effectiveness in promoting theft prevention. Gosnells City Council (WA) was one of the first grant recipients to provide project details, including the presentation of its first immobiliser giveaway by Mayor Patricia Morris to the owner of a high risk vehicle, Mr Gary Louis.
New Fact Sheets in Six Languages Single page CAR SAFE TIPS fact sheets are now available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Macedonian and Vietnamese. The printable fact sheets provide tips on preventing car theft and are an ideal resource for locally based crime prevention campaigns. Translations were provided by Darebin City Council (Victoria) as part of their NMVTRC funded Operation Bounce Back project which also established information stalls at major local shopping centres and advertised theft prevention tips through local papers. The NMVTRC’s full CAR SAFE TIPS brochure is also available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Korean and Vietnamese. The translated brochures were produced by Canterbury City Council (NSW) as part of their Operation Bounce Back project. Download the brochures here or contact us on 1300 668 410 to place your order. Commodores Hot in the Sunshine State
Holden Commodore was revealed as a favourite amongst opportunists and organised thieves alike.
SA Attorney General Reveals Thieves’ Top Choice The NMVTRC’s Australia’s Most Wanted campaign continued to make its way around the country with the unveiling of South Australia’s hottest theft targets in Adelaide on 1 July. Attorney General Michael Atkinson revealed older model Holden Commodore vehicles, particularly those manufactured from 1979 to 1991, to be the vehicle of choice for South Australian thieves.
Police Minister Reveals State’s Hottest Theft Targets New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon. Carl Scully met theft victims and revealed the State’s hottest theft targets during the Australia’s Most Wanted launch in Sydney on 27 June. Click here for the New South Wales media release.
Australia’s Most Wanted, Victoria Victorian Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon. Tim Ho
Find out about the NMVTRC's recent round of StratPlan Forums in the June edition of Theft Torque. Vehicle theft numbers fell by 5% in the March quarter. See our new look May edition of Theft Watch for more details. Gold Coast Car Theft Prevention Week New Multilingual Car Safe Brochures The NMVTRC's Car Safe Tips brochure is now available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Korean and Vietnamese. The translated brochures were produced by Canterbury City Council (NSW) as part of their NMVTRC-funded Operation Bounce Back project. Download the brochures here or contact us on 1300 668 410 to place your order. Ride It Like It's Stolen...it just might be The NMVTRC recently launched a new public education campaign about motorcycle identification, targeting owners and buyers of off-road motorcycles. Click here to see the NMVTRC's message to motorcyclists in the May edition of Australian Dirt Bike Magazine. Moreland Mayor Says 'Lock it or Lose it' Moreland City Council (VIC) Mayor Mark Higginbotham launched Moreland's Operation Bounce Back project on 13 April. The project will include the installation of striking 'Lock it or Lose It' signs around the City's carparks. The launch was held at Coburg Train Station and was attended by police, community members and victims of theft. Bankstown City Council (NSW) launched its Operation Bounce Back project at Yagoona Train Station on 30 March. Council staff and police will hand out vehicle theft information packs to morning commuters at Yagoona and Padstow train stations on the 13th and 14th of April as part of the project.
See our updated Theft Risk program, a search engine based on up to date, Australia wide statistics. Click here to find out about your car. The number of vehicles reported stolen to Australia’s state and territory police services in 2004 was 85,275, equating to one theft for every 167 registered vehicles and a 10 per cent decline on 2003. Click here for more detail. Operation Bounce Back launches 4/3/05 - Greater Geelong City Council (Victoria) launched their Operation Bounce Back project in Market Square with theft victim, Bev, telling the audience of her experience. Click here for more information about Operation Bounce Back. 3/3/05 - Launceston City Council (Tasmania) launched their Operation Bounce Back project with a community event in Brisbane Street Mall. Details of how Launceston residents can apply for one of the OBB free immobilisers are available on the Launceston Council's website. 26/2/05 - Logan City Council (Queensland) launched their Operation Bounce Back project with a sausage sizzle in a local carpark. The event featured an eye catching burnt out stolen car, reminding passers-by of why they should immobilise their cars against theft. Click here for more information about Operation Bounce Back.
Ten Operation Bounce Back projects are underway so far across Australia with more to be launched in the coming months. Grants were offered to twenty councils to develop local solutions to target ‘theft hotspots’ within their boundaries. Councils funded to date are: Bankstown, Canterbury, Wollongong, and Campbelltown (New South Wales); Glenorchy and Launceston (Tasmania); Darebin and Greater Geelong (Victoria); and Logan (Queensland). Up and Running: Auto Parts Recyclers join National Code of Practice The National Parts Code (NPC) has received an excellent response to its invitation to auto parts recyclers to join the industry Code of Practice. A round of advertising promoting the Code and participating businesses has commenced and Code Director, Nick Koerbin, will be making a series of presentations to parts recyclers and suppliers throughout the country on the benefits and impact of the Code. For more information, visit the NPC website at www.partscode.com.au. The National Parts Code is currently seeking an independent recycler to join its management committee. Details of this position are available under "News" on the NPC website. New Zealand Cracks Down on Car Theft The New Zealand (NZ) Government is drawing on the NMVTRC’s expertise and strategies in its new Vehicle Crime Reduction Programme. Click here for more information. The CARS 2003/2004 Statistical Data CD is now available to NMVTRC stakeholders. The CD contains comprehesive vehicle theft data for all states and territories and the nation in an easy guided step-by step format. Stakeholders can contact the NMVTRC to request a copy of the CD. Australia's Most Wanted Highlights Top WA Theft Targets The NMVTRC launched its Australia's Most Wanted campaign in Western Australia today, unveiling the State's top theft targets and the top national targets for vehicle rebirthing. Read the press release here. Launch of U-turn in Queensland Code of Practice Director Appointed The NMVTRC has also released its new range of public education materials. Brochures and posters are available to support vehicle theft prevention campaigns. Contact the NMVTRC for more details. Audi applies VIN-based microdots NMVTRC Launches Local Government Partnership The NMVTRC’s revised Tackling Vehicle Theft: a Guide for Local Communities publication has been distributed to 400 councils with an offer of free public education materials to support local theft reduction campaigns. To celebrate the launch of the Guide twenty grant packages for projects that raise awareness about vehicle security and fit immobilisers to high risk cars have been offered to selected councils. Click here for more information about the NMVTRC’s local government partnership.
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lding MP, joined NMVTRC Chairman, Mr David Morgan on 22 June to reveal the vehicles which are most sought after by car thieves in Victoria and Australia. The ‘unveiling’ was part of the NMVTRC’s Australia’s Most Wanted community education initiative. Australia’s Most Wanted events have also been held in Hobart, Darwin and Perth and are scheduled for Sydney (27 June), Adelaide (1 July) and Brisbane (7 July). 
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