Car security may boost home theft

A survey by insurer AAMI has found almost half of all vehicle thefts occurred from the owner's garage, driveway or nearby street and of the 13 per cent of break-ins, more than half occurred at home or nearby.

AAMI spokesman Mike Sopinski says engine immobilisers, dead locks and other security devices could be the reason for the home thefts.

"I believe increased security features in modern vehicles and how difficult it has become to enter, start and steal vehicles is forcing thieves to undertake ‘sneak’ raids on homes to locate car keys and make off with vehicles," he says.

"We have definitely seen a considerable increase in the number of car keys being stolen from houses then the vehicle being stolen. I saw a red Porsche 911 turbo was recently stolen in this way from a house in Aspley and then the Porsche had that many sightings and disappearances it became almost the Mary Celeste (abandoned ship) of south Queensland roads."

The study also shows the proportion of stolen cars left unlocked outside or near the owner’s home has risen significantly from 70 per cent in 2006 to 81 per cent today. And nearly a third of drivers nationally (30 per cent) admit they sometimes leave personal possessions and valuables easily visible in their car when parked.

The most commonly stolen items from cars are cash (31 per cent), CDs (18 per cent), sunglasses and clothing (17 per cent) and car stereos or portable music players (15 per cent).  Sopinski says the research showed the importance of remaining vigilant about car security even at home.

"Australian motorists seem to have the perception that they can afford to be relaxed about car security once they are in familiar territory at home," Sopinski says.

However, car theft rates remain low with just 4 per cent of survey respondents reporting having had a car stolen, while 13 per cent had personal items stolen from their car.

The biggest percentage of car break-ins were in the Northern Territory (18 per cent), followed by Western Australia (17 per cent), Victoria (14 per cent), South Australia and NSW (13 per cent), ACT (12 per cent) and Queensland and Tasmania (11 per cent). Of those, most occurred at home in South Australia (76 per cent), NT (70 per cent), ACT (63 per cent), Tasmania (62 per cent), NSW and WA (58 per cent), Victoria (46 per cent) and Queensland (30 per cent).

Sopinski says drivers should park in well-lit areas, not leave valuables in their car or keep them out of sight, and always lock doors and windows.