By Charlene Gatt
MORE than 100 cars were stolen from the City of Maribyrnong in the first four months of 2011, National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council figures reveal.
A total 102 cars have been stolen between 1 January and 30 April this year, with 38 cars recovered to date.
Car theft in the municipality continues to drop, with 335 cars stolen in 2010, compared to 423 in 2009.
Footscray recorded the highest number of thefts in both 2009 and 2010, with a total 278 cars stolen.
On the other end of the spectrum, only 17 cars were stolen from Kingsville over 2009 and 2010.
Ballarat Rd emerged as the top theft location, while the Toyota Camry SV21 was the top theft target for the area.
National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council Executive Director Ray Carroll said the figures pointed to a high incidence of older vehicle theft for short-term purposes.
“Pleasingly, motor vehicle theft continues to decline in the City of Maribyrnong, with the Local Government Area now ranked number 10 in the state based on volume alone,” Mr Carroll said.
“However, there is always more than can be done. Car theft prevention is a shared responsibility.”
Mr Carroll advised drivers of pre-2001 cars to fit them with an immobilizer, and for new car owners to protect their keys and not leave them unattended.
Other advice included removing all valuables from your car and parking in high-visibility areas.
