Victoria Police have seized nearly 1000 key cloning devices in the past year, warning motorists that 30 cars are stolen each day using them, and prompting police to warn vulnerable vehicle owners via mail.
Police have repeatedly warned that Toyota Corolla, Toyota LandCruiser, Holden Commodore, Toyota HiLux, Toyota RAV4, and Subaru Impreza models are among the most targeted vehicles by car thieves using these devices.
During recent patrols of theft hotspots, police took the registration details of vehicles that were found unlocked or matching the vulnerable models, in order to then mail pamphlets to the home addresses of vehicle owners.
While motorists can be fined for leaving their cars unlocked under Victorian law, Victoria Police told Drive it has no plans to proactively issue fines related to owners leaving their vehicles unlocked.
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Key cloners and onboard diagnostic (OBD) tools are designed for use by locksmiths or mechanics respectively, but can be misused by criminals to bypass security on many popular vehicles.
Police say 43 per cent of the 900-plus devices seized in the past 12 months have been during search warrants and intercepts of suspicious vehicles in the North West Metro Region, particularly Melton, Whittlesea and Hume.
Other key areas where devices were seized included the Southern Metro Region (23 per cent), Eastern Region (21 per cent) and Western Region (11 per cent).
Victoria Police say many vehicle thefts are opportunistic, with Vehicle Crime Squad Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald saying OBD port locks and a steering wheel lock are good deterrents for thieves.
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“Car theft remains a significant concern for both police and our community – which is why we continue to relentlessly target and arrest offenders,” Macdonald said.
“In the past year police have seized more than 900 key cloning devices from car thieves across the state – a stark reminder that offenders are turning to this technology to commit their offending.
“Car thieves only need one opportunity. We’re urging motorists to take away that opportunity and protect their vehicle.
“Simple steps can make a real difference. Installing an on-board diagnostic port lock and using a steering wheel lock can add an extra layer of protection and always make sure your vehicle is locked, even when home.”
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