By ALESHA CAPONE
MORE than 440 cars have been stolen in Hobsons Bay within two years, according to data from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.
The numbers reveal Altona North, Laverton and Altona Meadows are the municipality’s car theft hotspots.
Figures from the NMVTRC – supplied to Star – show 82 cars and light commercial vehicles were stolen from Altona North during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 financial years.
Almost 75 cars were illegally taken in Laverton and 65 were pinched from across Altona Meadows.
Newport, Altona and Williamstown all had around 50 vehicles stolen from their streets.
In comparison only 20 cars were taken in Brooklyn, 14 from Williamstown North,12 in Spotswood and 11 from Seabrook.
Only three cars were stolen in South Kingsville and four from Seaholme across the 24 months.
More than 130 of the 443 cars stolen in Hobsons Bay have not yet been recovered.
These NMVTRC classifies these as ‘profit-motivated’ thefts where the car is illegally disposed of either whole or for its parts.
The NMVTRC executive director Ray Carroll said there were 228 cars stolen in Hobsons Bay in the latest financial year compared to 215 in the previous 12 months.
“As you will see, overall theft numbers have remained relatively stable in Hobsons Bay over the past year, with just 13 additional cars stolen in 2011-’12,” he said.
“Like all crime, vehicle theft occurs within a complex mix of social and economic factors that are continually changing.
“There is mounting evidence to suggest that the current social and economic conditions are having a negative impact on property crime rates, including that of both short-term and profit-motivated motor vehicle theft.”
Hobsons Bay Police Inspector Bill Mathers said police were working hard to crack down on both the theft of cars and thefts from vehicles.
“Police find it frustrating that a large number of thefts from cars which we go to are for unlocked vehicles with valuables left in plain sight,” he said.
Insp Mathers said drivers should take mobile phones, lap tops and valuables with them when leaving their vehicle.
