Key cloning tech a major factor in Victorian car theft epidemic, police say

Victoria Police says key cloning devices are now being used for nearly one third of all car thefts in the state, as the recent surge in car-related crimes shows no sign of slowing.

Police say that more than 10,000 vehicles are now being stolen in Victoria each year using such technology, with criminals using key-cloning devices, easily available for purchase online, to override in-built car security systems.

Popular makes and models fitted with push-button ignitions are particularly susceptible, and the latest Crime Statistics Agency data shows such thefts contributed to a record-high total of 33,212 vehicles being stolen in the 12 months to September 30, 2025.

Police say that among the most stolen vehicles are the Toyota LandCruiser, Corolla, HiLux, and RAV4, with the vulnerability of the Japanese brand’s cars exposed by CarExpert in October 2025. Additional targets include Subaru Imprezas and, as ever, Holden Commodores.

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Key cloning devices are legal in Australia and intended for use by mechanics and car dealers, primarily to access locked vehicles and program new keys when owners lose access to their vehicles – for example, when their keys are lost or damaged.

However, these devices can be purchased online by anyone, leading to their proliferation among criminals. Police say 800 such devices were seized from Victoria’s most active car thieves last year.

“Our intelligence estimates as many as 30 cars are being stolen using key cloning technology in Victoria every day,” deputy commissioner of regional operations Bob Hill said in a media statement.

“Key cloning devices are showing up more and more frequently at search warrants and during intercepts of suspicious vehicles. There is no doubt this methodology is rife in the criminal world and as a community, we need to work together to reduce car theft.”

The senior police officer told the ABC that the majority of car thieves are repeat adult offenders who will walk the streets until they find a vehicle with a push-button ignition.

“It would be less than a minute. It would be a matter of 10, 15 seconds,” he said. “The onboard diagnostic tool plugs into a port that is beneath the dashboard, and that will override the security system and allow the ignition to come on.”

Police say 846 Toyota LandCruisers were stolen last year “in circumstances suggesting technological theft was likely”, up from 241 in 2024. Such circumstances are said to include when owners report to police that they still had their keys but their car had vanished.

2025’s total car theft figure of 33,212 is up from the 25,762 reported in 2024, which was already 6404 more than in 2023 – representing a whopping increase of 71 per cent in just two years.

In addition to those statistics, Victoria Police also published a list of car theft hotspots. In 2025, these included Melbourne CBD (561), Dandenong (392), Reservoir (290), Southbank (287), Tarneit (246), Truganina (239), Craigieburn (237), Frankston (234), Narre Warren (216), Epping (215), and St Albans (153) – alongside 192 from Melbourne Airport.

Additions in early 2026 include Berwick, Malvern East, Clayton, and Glen Waverley, according to police.

Deputy Commissioner Hill told the ABC approximately 80 per cent of stolen vehicles were recovered by police, but often after they had been used by thieves to conduct another crime. Some stolen vehicles are also exported whole or cut up for parts.

Despite authorities claiming to recover the majority of stolen vehicles each year, Victoria Police recommends that the community explore a “range of preventative measures to help deter thieves”. This includes a cheap on-board diagnostic (OBD) port lock, intended to prevent a thief from plugging a cloning device into a vehicle.

Other methods include fitting items such as steering wheel locks, however thieves can easily circumvent these deterrents, as shown in a more recent video on the . A more secure anti-theft option is having an aftermarket immobiliser installed by a professional, but this may affect new-vehicle warranties.

Police also recommend parking your vehicle off-street and always ensuring it is locked, even when at home.

“Police are targeting the most prolific car thieves, which continues to lead to quick arrests,” deputy commissioner Hill added. “Victoria Police continues to bolster the number of police in the community so our officers can deter and prevent crime.”

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