Commodore Most Popular for Car Thieves
Early model Holden Commodores are the vehicle of choice for car thieves around Australia according to insurance claims data released today.
An analysis of AAMI insurance claims shows Commodore makes and models accounted for 62 per cent of the top 15 vehicles stolen from AAMI customers last year. The 1999 Holden VT Commodore Executive took out top spot with 150 theft claims, followed by the 1998 Holden VT Commodore Berlina (131 theft claims).
Only one Ford model the 1999 AU Falcon Forte made the list, along with three Hyundai Excel Sprint models (1996, 1997 and 1999), the 2002 Toyota Rav 4 Cruiser, and the 1999 Nissan Pulsar SS.
AAMIs data is similar to figures from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRD) which reported three times as many Commodores than Falcons were stolen in the first three months of 2009 . From January-March, 1767 Commodores were stolen compared to 507 Falcons and 288 Hyundai Excels.
AAMI Corporate Affairs Manager Mike Sopinski said it wasnt surprising 1990s makes and models featured so prominently on the list, nor was the prevalence of Holden Commodores.
Vehicle theft has dropped remarkably over the past 10 years, primarily because of advances in technology and theft deterrents such as engine immobilisers increasingly a standard feature on new cars, he said.
Commodores are not the vehicle of choice for car thieves because they are easier to steal if anything they are a victim of their own popularity with professional thieves seeking to cash in on strong demand for spare parts, Mr Sopinski said.
Top 15 Vehicles Stolen
Year - Claims - Model
1999 150 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VT F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1998 131 HOLDEN COMMODORE BERLINA VT F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1999 128 FORD FALCON FORTE AU F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1998 125 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VT F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1996 105 HYUNDAI EXCEL SPRINT F/INJ 3D HATCHBACK
1997 104 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VT F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1990 102 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VN F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1996 101 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VSII F/INJ 4D SEDAN
2002 100 TOYOTA RAV4 CRUISER 4X4 ACA21R F/INJ 5D WAGON
1999 98 HYUNDAI EXCEL SPRINT X3 F/INJ 3D HATCHBACK
2001 98 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VX F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1999 93 NISSAN PULSAR SSS N15II F/INJ 5D HATCHBACK
1992 91 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VP F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1997 91 HOLDEN COMMODORE EXECUTIVE VSII F/INJ 4D SEDAN
1997 89 HYUNDAI EXCEL SPRINT F/INJ 3D HATCHBACK
Mr Sopinski said driver efforts to make cars harder to steal through active and passive theft deterrent methods was paying dividends, based on insurance, police and other industry figures showing a dramatic decline in car theft.
National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council figures suggest car theft in Australia has almost halved in the past five years AAMI agrees that police, insurers and other stakeholders need to work together to identify new ways to reduce motor vehicle theft, he said.
In its May edition of Theft Watch, the NMVTRC reported 52,753 cars were stolen in the 12 months to March, 2009. Car theft costs individuals, businesses and insurers some $600 million every year.
Last year alone, AAMI paid many millions to repair or replace our customers stolen cars. We are constantly looking for ways to reduce the incidence of vehicle theft in the community because its in everyones interest to eliminate car theft, Mr Sopinski said.
What more can be done?
Mr Sopinski said there are many steps drivers can take to make their car less appealing to thieves.
At a very basic level, drivers can be doing a lot more to keep their car safe and secure, such as parking in well-lit visible places, always locking doors and windows, and keeping personal items like sunglasses, handbags and portable music devices hidden from view.
AAMIs research shows most drivers always lock their car (87 per cent) but many are still inclined to leave personal effects visible (24 per cent) which for thieves can be like a red flag to a bull. If a thief can easily access a car, taking the next step and stealing it outright isnt all that unimaginable.
More sophisticated theft deterrents such as car alarms and engine immobilisers offer the best protection against car theft, so it is encouraging that many drivers have cars equipped with one or both of these devices.
Three in five drivers have an immobiliser fitted to their car (57 per cent) and two in five have an alarm (37 per cent) typically these devices are standard features of most new cars which explain why so few new cars are reported stolen, Mr Sopinski said.
AAMIs data for engine immobilisers is similar to NMVTRC figures that show immobilisers are fitted to around 45% of all vehicles in Australia, but only 7% of stolen vehicles.
Editors note: With more than 2.5 million policyholders, AAMI is one of the largest car insurers in Australia. Nationally, AAMIs overall market share has grown such that it now occupies the number one or two position in nearly all the markets in which it operates.
* National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, Theft Watch (May edition, No. 31)
** 2008 AAMI insurance claims data
*** AAMIs research is based on an independent telephone and internet survey of 2500 Australians, conducted by Sweeney Research in every state and territory. Collected data is carefully weighted in line with current ABS population demographics to ensure any extrapolation of results is representative of age, gender and population on a regional, state and national basis
