Fact Sheet
Number 2
July, 2001
Motor Vehicle Theft Targets
During 2000 a total of 12,835 motor vehicles were reported stolen to the South Australian Police. Of these, vehicles
manufactured in the 1980s account for six out of every 10 (62.6%) thefts and a further two (or 20.7%) were manufactured
prior to 1980. These vehicles are particularly popular theft targets as there are over 500,000 of them registered in South
Australia and they generally lack any form of effective security. Young opportunistic thieves target these vehicles for
transport, joyriding or to commit another crime with little preference for make and model, being driven more by
availability.
Figure 1. Motor vehicle thefts reported to SA police during 2000 by year of manufacture.
1% 1%
15%
20%
63%
Year of manufacture
<1970
1970-79
1980-89
1990-99
2000
From 1992 onwards the engine immobilisers and deadlocks started to be introduced into the mainstream models sold in
Australia. While many of the early model engine immobilisers do not make a vehicle theft proof they certainly do restrict
the average opportunistic offender. Thus vehicles manufactured after 1992 are more likely to be stolen by professional
thieves intending to gain some financial reward from the sale of the vehicle and or its parts.
Amongst these newer vehicles the primary targets were vehicles which are also popular with the consumer, thus there is
a large range of vehicles from which the thief can choose and there is also a large market of unsuspecting potential
buyers for the re-identified vehicle and or its parts.
During 2000 the Holden Commodore topped the most frequently stolen table of vehicles manufactured from 1992
onwards. In fact, the VT, VS, VR and VP series Commodores took out the top four rankings. The Holden Commodore
took out the top four places. The next most frequently stolen vehicle was the Hyundai Excel X3. Nationally, the Excel X3
is the number one theft target across Australia with particularly high levels of theft recorded in New South Wales,
Queensland, Western Australian and the ACT. While occasionally being targeted by professional thefts the Excel X3
has relatively poor security and is more commonly taken by the opportunistic offender. The top theft targets also
demonstrate that it is not necessarily the high performance or high priced vehicles that are stolen by offenders. In
addition to the Excel X3 seven other small cars are included amongst the top targets including the Ford Laser KH, Ford
Festiva WB, Holden Barina SB, Nissan Pulsar N15, Ford Festiva WF, Mitsubishi Lancer CC and Toyota Corolla 101/102.
Similarly, certain light commercial vehicles such as the Toyota Hilux, Holden Ute VS III, Holden Ute VR and 4-wheel
drive vehicles such as the Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series, 80 Series, and Nissan Patrol are also popular targets.
OFFICE OF CRIME STATISTICS, Attorney-Generals Department, GPO Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001.
Telephone (08) 8207 1731 Facsimile (08) 8204 9575 Website: www.ocs.sa.gov.au
Table 2.
Most frequently stolen passenger and light commercial vehicles (1992 models onwards) based on thefts reported
to SA Police during 2000.
Ranking
Make
Model/Series
Number of
thefts
Number
recovered*
HOLDEN
COMMODORE VT
103
88
HOLDEN
COMMODORE VS
64
55
HOLDEN
COMMODORE VR
50
44
HOLDEN
COMMODORE VP
47
42
HYUNDAI
EXCEL X3
42
38
FORD
FORD FALCON AU
26
23
FORD
FORD FALCON EF
26
19
MITSUBISHI
MAGNA TR
23
21
TOYOTA
HILUX
23
21
10
FORD
FALCON EB II
22
18
11
HOLDEN
UTE VSIII
18
16
12
FORD
FALCON EL
17
15
13
SUBARU
LIBERTY
13
13
14
FORD
LASER KH
12
10
15
SUBARU
IMPREZA
12
10
16
MITSUBISHI
MAGNA TE
11
17
MITSUBISHI
MAGNA TF
11
18
MITSUBISHI
MAGNA TS
11
19
FORD
FALCON ED
10
20
FORD
FESTIVA WB
10
21
HOLDEN
BARINA SB
10
22
NISSAN
PULSAR N15
10
10
23
TOYOTA
LANDCRUISER 80 SERIES
10
24
FORD
FESTIVA WF
25
HOLDEN
UTE VR
26
MITSUBISHI
LANCER CC
27
TOYOTA
CAMRY 20 SERIES
28
TOYOTA
LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES
29
NISSAN
PATROL
30
TOYOTA
COROLLA 101/102
* Number recovered is based on recovery status as at 31/12/2000
Less than 2% of all vehicles stolen during 2000 had an Australian Standards equivalent immobiliser fitted as standard
equipment. This demonstrates the value of immobilisers in reducing the risk of theft.
Further analysis of those vehicles stolen with an Australian Standards equivalent immobiliser has been undertaken to
determine how these vehicles were stolen. Based on those vehicles that were recovered, it was found that 56% were
stolen because the offender had access to the keys, 35% appeared to have no access to keys and in 9% of cases the
records did not provide enough detail to determine if the offenders had access to keys or not.
This finding demonstrates the importance of car keys for immobilised vehicles and the need for them to be protected at
all times. Of the vehicles identified as being stolen via access to keys, 38% of cases involved offenders breaking into
homes or businesses to get the keys. Other common methods were taking the keys from gyms or other recreational
facilities while victims were busy with other activities or theft of rental vehicles whereby offenders would use false names
and id to obtain vehicles.
Motor Vehicle Theft is one of a number of long-term research interests within the Office of Crime Statistics. To this end OCS has
established, in conjunction with the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council Inc., the National CARS Project. The National
CARS (Comprehensive Auto-theft Research System) Project gathers data from police services, vehicle registration authorities and
insurance companies from around Australia and uses this information to monitor trends and assist in the development and evaluation of
vehicle theft reduction strategies
