Melbourne Records More Vehicle Thefts and Break-Ins Than Other Australian Capitals Combined

A car was stolen or broken into every 43 minutes in Victoria in the year to June, with Melbourne experiencing more vehicle thefts and break-ins than all other Australian capital cities combined. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) reported 12,300 motor vehicle theft claims in Victoria, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year, costing insurers $244 million. This occurred while all other states and territories saw a decline in such claims.

• A car was stolen or broken into every 43 minutes in Victoria in the year to June.
• Melbourne recorded more vehicle thefts and break-ins than all other Australian capital cities combined.
• Victorian motor vehicle theft claims reached 12,300 in the 12 months to June 2026, up 9 percent from the previous year.
• The cost of these claims to insurers was $244 million.
• Every other state and territory recorded a decline in vehicle theft and break-in claims during the same period.
• The findings are from the ICA’s “A Safer and Stronger Victoria” report, which includes policy recommendations.