12 November 2004
Most wanted identified in crackdown on car thieves
Paul Henderson MLA
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Peter Toyne MLA
Minister
for Justice
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The Territory’s ‘most wanted’ cars were identified today as part of a new initiative to crackdown on car thieves and reduce car thefts across the Northern Territory .
Launching the Northern Territory Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Committee, Police Minister Paul Henderson said the new initiative was a powerful partnership between government, industry and the community.
“The Northern Territory has the lowest rate of car theft in the country, but there is always more that can be done to reduce the rate even further,” Mr Henderson said.
“Almost 60 cars are stolen in the Northern Territory every month, costing the community more than $500,000, and too often stolen cars are used to get thieves to the site of their next offence.
“By combining the efforts of government, industry and the community in the Territory, the new Territory Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Committee will really focus efforts on reducing the rate of vehicle theft in the NT.
“On a national level, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Committee has played a central role in working with groups as diverse as car and spare part manufacturers, motor vehicle traders, Police, and Government, to lobby for changes and new policy to reduce the rate of motor vehicle theft.
“One significant outcome of this national approach was the establishment of a national motor vehicle register – making it easier to identify vehicle and parts if it were stolen, regardless of where it winds up.
“With this new committee, the Northern Territory will now officially become part of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, allowing the Territory better access to national initiatives aimed at reducing car theft.”
The NT Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Committee will include representatives of the Office of Crime Prevention, NT Police, Infrastructure, Planning & Environment Department, TIO, Consumer and Business Affairs and the Road Safety Council of the NT.
Justice Minister, Dr Peter Toyne, said the formation of the local committee was facilitated in the NT by the Justice Department’s Office of Crime Prevention in partnership with the NT Police Force and the national council.
“It’s an initiative which supports the Building Safer Communities Framework for Crime Prevention and Community Safety,” Dr Toyne said.
“It’s a great pleasure to see the formation of the local committee which will give some formal teeth to tackling car theft in the NT.”
According to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, the vehicles most likely to be stolen in the NT are:
- 5 th - Toyota Corolla (made in 1976-1988) – 10 stolen in the NT in the past 12 months
- 4 th – Toyota Hilux (made in 1984-1999) - 30 thefts.
- 3 rd – Ford Falcon (made in 1983-1990) – 40 thefts.
- 2 nd – Toyota Landcruiser (made in 1982-1997) – 40 thefts.
- 1 st – Holden Commodore (made in 1981-1990) – 70 thefts.
“There are two key messages from the NMVTRC when it comes to these two categories of motor vehicle theft - think of fitting your engine with an immobiliser and carefully check the identity of both vehicle and seller before you buy,” said Mr Henderson.
Nationally, organised criminals seeking to turn vehicles into cash by re-selling or stripping them for parts are most likely to steal:
- 5 th – Mitsubishi Lancer (during 1998-2002) – 110 stolen, not recovered, worth $1.2M
- 4 th – Toyota Hilux (during 1998-2002) – 110 stolen, not recovered, worth $1.4M
- 3 rd – Toyota Landcruiser (during 1998-2002) – 160 stolen, not recovered, worth $2.8M
- 2 nd – Ford Falcon (during 1998-2002) – 170 stolen, not recovered, worth $2.6M
- 1 st – Holden Commodore (in 2003) – 440 stolen, not recovered, worth $6.7 million.