VICTORIA PLUNGED INTO CAR THEFT CRISIS: Alarming 40% Spike in Stolen Vehicles Leaves Police Baffled – With Kids as Young as 10 Behind the Wheel!
- 28,482 motor vehicles stolen in Victoria in the past year alone, with youth offenders using tech-savvy tactics to evade police.
- Car thefts have reached their highest level since 2002, with a staggering 116% increase in just three years.
- More than one in four stolen cars are linked to child offenders, with police calling for the community to take action to prevent further crimes.
In a shocking revelation, Victoria has been gripped by a car theft crisis, with the number of stolen vehicles skyrocketing by a staggering 40% in just one year. The latest statistics from the Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency paint a dire picture, with 28,482 motor vehicles stolen in the 12 months to June 2025.
The crisis has reached boiling point, with car thefts now at their highest level since 2002. The figures are even more alarming when compared to 2022, with a whopping 116% increase in just three years. Police are baffled by the sheer scale of the problem, which is being fuelled by tech-savvy youth offenders.
According to the statistics, more than one in four stolen cars are linked to child offenders, with 1128 children arrested a combined 7118 times over the past year. On average, each of these youths is taken into custody at least once every eight weeks. While there were 149 fewer children arrested compared to 2024, the total number of arrests went up by a staggering 26.7%.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill has issued a stark warning, saying: “As a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalised and accepted – every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their home, within the community and on the roads.”
Police are urging the community to take simple steps to prevent crime, such as locking doors and considering anti-theft devices for vehicles. They are also working to resolve these crimes, with more than 800 devices seized in the past year.
In a heart-wrenching development, aggravated home burglaries – often linked to a resident’s car being stolen – have also increased by 20% in Victoria in 2025, while attempted aggravated burglaries went up by 42.5%.
The car theft crisis has raised concerns about the safety of Victorians, with police calling for the community to work together to prevent further crimes. With the number of stolen vehicles showing no signs of slowing down, it’s clear that something needs to be done – and fast.