Victoria Police seized 800 key cloning devices from prolific car thieves last year, as new intelligence estimates more than 10,000 vehicles are stolen using this technology each year.
Motor vehicle theft has escalated markedly in Victoria in recent years, with the latest Crime Statistics Agency data showing 33,212 vehicles were stolen in the year to end of September 2025.
This has directly coincided with a surge in car thieves using key mimicking or cloning technology to override car security systems.
Victoria Police intelligence shows well over a quarter of all cars are now likely to be stolen in this manner.
Popular makes and models with push start ignitions are being targeted in ever increasing numbers – disappearing from residential streets or other community locations without any other offence, such as a robbery, burglary or carjacking occurring.
Most commonly in these thefts, the owner reported to police they retained the keys, and their car had simply vanished.
Victoria Police recovers around 80% of all vehicles stolen each year.
Police are urging owners of vehicles to look at a range of preventative measures to help deter thieves, including an on-board diagnostic port lock which prevents an offender connecting a reprogramming device to your vehicle. These locks are highly affordable and self-installable.
Other security tips include parking your vehicle off the street and always ensuring your vehicle is locked, even when at home.
2022 TO 2025 increases:
Holden Commodore: 485 to 1271 – 2.6 times as many
Toyota Land Cruiser: 89 to 846 – 9.5 times as many
Toyota Corolla: 149 to 676 – 4.5 times as many
Toyota HiLux: 140 to 592 – 4.2 times as many
Toyota RAV4: 47 to 467 – 9.9 times as many
Subaru Impreza: 31 to 445 – 14.4 times as many
