Insurance Claims Highlight Scale of Problem
Residents are increasingly investing in security measures such as bollards and bulletproof glass as the city experiences a surge in car thefts. In 2025, Victoria recorded over 32,000 stolen vehicles, the highest number since 2001.
Insurance claims for stolen cars in Victoria reached $243 million in 2025, surpassing the total of all other Australian states and territories combined. A car is stolen or broken into in Victoria every 42 minutes, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
Jane Foreman, a Melbourne resident, remarked on the situation stating, "Victorians should not need bulletproof glass and steel bollards to feel safe in their own homes and streets. This is a failure of government, not a failure of the community."
Community Response and Government Criticism
Although other Australian states have seen a decline in car thefts, Victoria's car-theft insurance claims rose by 25 per cent year-on-year. Queensland reversed a similar crime wave with bail and sentencing reforms, a strategy that Victoria has yet to adopt.
Family First advocates that the surge in crime is due to weak bail laws and inadequate consequences for repeat offenders. They are urging the Allan government to extend sentencing reforms to include property crimes like car theft.
A case reported by The Age highlights the lengths residents are going to protect themselves. A retiree in Ashburton has spent $20,000 on security enhancements such as bollards and bulletproof glass.
Family First has called for mandatory consequences for repeat offenders and a reassessment of bail policies, aiming to curb the surge in non-violent property crimes.
Google searches for 'steering wheel lock' have increased more than 5,000 per cent nationally over the past five years, reflecting widespread concern over vehicle security.
While Victoria has become the car-theft capital of Australia under the Allan government's watch, Queensland's reforms serve as a potential model for effective crime reduction strategies.
Last updated: 16 June 2026, 9:15 pm
