Meng Jie stepped out of her Belconnen home one Friday morning, ready for work, only to discover her sedan had vanished from its usual parking spot overnight. The resident told The Canberra Times she clearly remembered locking the vehicle and was shocked that neither she nor her neighbours heard any alarm or commotion.
"My white car was gone and I filed a police report," Ms Jie said, expressing her hope for a miracle recovery.
Revealing Canberra's Car Theft Hotspots
Exclusive analysis by The Canberra Times has pinpointed the territory's worst suburbs for vehicle theft. Belconnen has reported the highest number of stolen vehicles since 2022, followed by Braddon, Phillip, Fyshwick and the city centre.
The data reveals concerning trends across these hotspots. Belconnen has experienced a steady increase in motor vehicle thefts over the past two years, rising from 40 incidents in 2022 to 49 in 2024. Meanwhile, Braddon saw thefts jump from 30 in 2021 to 44 in 2023 before dipping to 31 last year.
Phillip has maintained consistently high numbers with 35-40 thefts annually since 2022, while Fyshwick shows similarly volatile patterns. The central business district has witnessed a gradual increase in vehicle thefts since 2018, peaking at 39 incidents in 2023.
The Changing Face of Car Theft in Canberra
According to criminology lecturer Vincent Hurley, several factors are influencing car theft patterns across the ACT. The rising popularity of electric vehicles may be contributing to fewer theft reports, as these modern cars present greater challenges for thieves compared to older models.
"Electric cars are so much harder to steal than more older, traditional cars," Mr Hurley explained. "As the popularity of EVs increases and their cost coming down, I suspect there will be less stolen cars."
He also noted the decline of "copycatting" theft where criminals would record their joyriding exploits and share them on social media, a trend that was previously mimicked in regional NSW.
Meanwhile, a mechanic based in Hume revealed that Canberra is experiencing a severe shortage of spare parts, particularly for European cars, which may be driving thefts to supply the black market. "Genuine spare parts, including wheels, windshield wipers and even hubcaps of some European cars, take days, in fact, months to source from the market," the anonymous technician said.
Home Invasions: The New Path to Car Theft
ACT Policing confirms that technological advances have fundamentally changed how thieves operate. The universal introduction of engine immobilisers, which prevent vehicles from starting without the dedicated key fob, has been the "biggest single change" in combating vehicle theft.
However, this security measure has created a new problem. Police report an increase in home burglaries where thieves specifically target car keys.
"It is now near impossible for a vehicle to be 'hot-wired', however, this has led to an increase in home burglaries where the target of an offender is the car key for the owner's vehicle," an ACT Policing spokesman said.
Thieves continue to exploit basic security lapses, entering homes through unlocked doors and windows, garages, and in some cases, even through pet doors.
The human impact of these crimes is substantial. A Kambah resident, a single mother, described her devastation after a thief stole her car in May last year. For months, she relied on public transport to get her children to school and commute to work.
Although police located her vehicle abandoned in another suburb by August, the car was so badly damaged both inside and out that she had no choice but to continue using it without repairs due to financial constraints.
Her experience highlights a grim statistic: nearly 40 per cent of cars stolen in the ACT are never recovered by owners or investigators.
Protecting Your Vehicle: Police Advice
With about a thousand motor vehicles reported stolen annually in 2023 and 2024, and 680 vehicles stolen as of September 30 this year, ACT Policing urges residents to take preventive measures:
Always lock your vehicle, even if you're only stepping away for a few moments, and ensure all windows are completely closed.
Remove all valuables from your car, including wallets, phones, tablets, and even loose change, which can tempt thieves. Never store registration papers or other important documents in your glove box.
Avoid keeping spare keys and garage remotes in your vehicle, even if you believe they're well hidden.
When possible, park in secured areas like garages, backyards or carports rather than on driveways or streets. Be mindful of parking locations at night, choosing secure car parks or well-lit areas.
Police emphasize that stolen vehicles often become tools for other crimes, including dangerous driving and retail burglaries, making vehicle security a community-wide concern.
