Car thieves in SA police glances

The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, SA Police and Crime Stoppers have teamed up for a three-pronged attack that includes a dedicated phone-in day today for callers to help stall motor vehicle theft.

Crime Stoppers SA chair Sharon Hanlon said in 2013/14 almost one thousand vehicles in South Australia were believed stolen and converted to profit through rebirthing, sale of parts or scrap metal.

She said many of these vehicles were never recovered and the thieves never caught.

Theft-for-scrap rackets and dismantling of older vehicles for parts were emerging as a replacement for traditional entire vehicle re-birthing activities

“Profit-motivated vehicle thefts affect hundreds of South Australians every year, and while it is good to see theft numbers leisurely declining and fresh technologies being introduced to make it stiffer for thieves, it is significant to remain vigilant,” Ms Hanlon said.

“Organised crime groups are profiting at the community’s expense by stealing vehicles of all value and types, and this campaign offers an chance for people to provide information about those involved in profit-motivated vehicle theft activity.”

National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council executive director Ray Carroll said that theft-for-scrap rackets and dismantling of older vehicles for parts were emerging as a replacement for traditional entire vehicle re-birthing activities.

“With almost seven in ten missing vehicles valued at less than $Ten,000, it can be assumed that they are most likely stripped for parts or scrap metal for the domestic and increasingly export markets,” Mr Carroll said.

National data compiled by the council shows that the total number of incidents believed to be profit-motivated thefts enhanced by four per cent in two thousand fourteen to a total of Ten,960.

Toyota Hilux utes manufactured inbetween two thousand five and two thousand eleven were the most stolen cars

Of these, only one thousand one hundred eleven of the vehicles stolen were less than five years old. Large passenger vehicles remain the most popular target of profit-motivated theft, signifying just under a quarter of vehicles stolen and not recovered in 2014.

This is compared to petite passenger vehicles, which represented one in five thefts.

Toyota Hilux utes manufactured inbetween two thousand five and two thousand eleven were the most stolen cars with three hundred eighteen thefts, followed by the Holden Commodore VT, with two hundred thirty seven thefts.

Ms Hanlon said every call today could help disrupt organised vehicle theft activity.

“Callers can remain anonymous and prizes are available,” she said.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on one thousand eight hundred 333 000.

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