Victoria has recently been labelled Australia’s “car theft capital”.

According to the Insurance Council of Australia, more than A$243 million was paid out in Victoria last year in 12,500 claims involving stolen vehicles and thefts from motor vehicles.

Between 2024 and 2025, the state recorded a 25% increase in motor vehicle theft claims. There was also a 37% increase in associated costs.

As vehicle theft claims fall in several other states, Victoria is heading in the opposite direction.

The question is, why?

Why Victoria is becoming an outlier

Insurance Statistics Australia data suggest Victoria is increasingly an outlier when it comes to vehicle theft. But it provides limited insight into what is driving the increase.

To understand why Victoria is experiencing rising vehicle theft while other states are declining, we need to look at a broader range of factors.

According to Victoria Police, a key factor is the increasing use of electronic devices to steal cars.

Victoria Police say more than 10,000 vehicles are stolen using electronic theft methods each year. This is around 30 vehicles every day. In fact, Victoria Police has linked the growing use of these technologies to the highest levels of vehicle theft recorded since........

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