Youth Crime | How to tackle the problem in Victoria
Newly published crime data shows that the number of cars stolen across Victoria in 2023 has risen, with a significant increase in thefts carried out by young offenders.
Youth crime is rising, with the cost of living and the lack of opportunity with employment becoming two significant contributors to the ongoing rise of vehicle theft.
The figures, released by Victoria Police, reveal that car thefts by youths aged between 14 and 17 have jumped by more than 52.7 per cent.
In 2023, there were 1703 car thefts by minors, compared with 1115 recorded in 2022. Car theft and joyriding come from disadvantaged adolescents who seek risk-taking opportunities to show off to their friends, which usually ends up in disaster and trauma on our roads.
Illegal driving equals disaster.
It costs the government and the police hours of work and millions of dollars in fines, legal fees, and emergency responses, not to mention the potential loss of life and serious injuries that can result from reckless behaviour on the road.
In 2022, the Queensland Government decided it was time to fix the crime and invested $10,000 in an immobiliser trial in Far North Queensland. The territories at risk to residents, including Townsville, Mount Isa, and Cairns, were considered.
The Queensland government and QPS are leaders in the fight against crime. Now, the Victorian police are closely monitoring the trial after one year of installations by registered CODE SAFE installers. The trial was extended to give installers more time to install 20,000 vehicles until 30/12, and even though it has not concluded, the results have proven successful.
There have been many incidents where keys have been dropped in driveways by young offenders breaking into homes, stealing the keys, and realising that the car of their intention is not available for their bad choice, as the vehicle being immobilised has deterred the theft.
With more vehicles having CODE SAFE installed to immobilise the car, young offenders will soon realise that breaking into homes to steal the keys or key fob will end their criminal activities, as the increased use of immobilisation technology makes it significantly more challenging to operate stolen vehicles.
This shift in security measures will deter young offenders from pursuing such crimes, as the risks and consequences will outweigh the potential rewards.
Installers’ feedback from their customers after having a CODE SAFE IMMOBILISER installed is that they feel more secure leaving their vehicles in their driveways and garages at night. They know that their vehicle will not be used or driven recklessly by thieves, menacing other motorists on the road. More importantly, their vehicles can’t be used for future crimes.
Young kids have nothing better to do than steal a car for fun, but at the end of the day, it always ends in a high-speed car chase, or worse still, a death from high speeds, and we see this every day lately in our media.
Insurance companies need to step up and make immobilisation part of their policies to educate their members to add another layer of vehicle security to their assets. With premiums skyrocketing, what better policy than offering discounts to their members who invest in additional security measures to protect themselves and other motorists?
Insurance companies lose money from stolen cars daily, so they offer members discounts on premiums for adding an immobiliser. Vehicle security systems would not only benefit their members but also make them profitable. With less vehicle theft, insurance companies save millions of dollars in claims.
Insurance companies are at the forefront of motor vehicle management, and they need to be proactive in the fight against vehicle theft. They should give their members peace of mind by allowing them to protect their vehicles from theft with the support of their insurance company.
We must work together to reduce the risk of young offenders taking our cars by adding another layer of vehicle security with a keypad car immobiliser.
