This advice applies whether they are parked in the street, in a car park or even at a house.
Car thefts are up by almost 25 per cent, with more than 23,248 thefts or attempted thefts of motor vehicles recorded across Victoria in the 12 months to June 2024 — a 4500 offence increase in 12 months.
Items stolen from inside vehicles increased by 17.2 per cent, with 9000 offences.
In 2023 in Greater Shepparton, there were 408 cases of stealing from a motor vehicle. So far in 2024, 433 incidents have occurred.
RACV General Manager Motoring Products Jeff Ames said opportunistic thieves would break into or enter a car and take possessions that were easily visible from outside the vehicle, often using the opportunity to steal the car itself.
Licence plates also rank as one of the top items stolen from cars.
The primary reason for this is because thieves can install these plates on their own or other stolen vehicles to commit crimes such as ram raids, fuel theft and burglaries.
The RACV is urging Victorians to complete a car security check, which involves installing anti-theft screws on all licence plates, removing valuables from their vehicle, using secure parking such as a behind a gate or in a locked garage and, most importantly, locking their car.
Felix Harding is a Greater Shepparton Secondary College student who recently completed work experience with The News.
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