Southbank residents deserve better protection from car crime

For many Southbank residents, their cars are used less frequently than the state average due to the proximity of the central business district. They should be able to leave their vehicles at home with confidence. Increasingly, they cannot.

Southbank is one of Victoria’s hotspots for motor vehicle theft, with rates well above the state and national average, and residents regularly raise concerns with me about stolen cars, break-ins, suspicious activity in apartment car parks and a growing sense that criminals are becoming bolder.

As the Member for Prahran, which includes part of Southbank, and as Shadow Assistant Minister for Melbourne, I take these concerns seriously.

The latest crime figures paint a troubling picture. In 2025, there were 2013 motor vehicle theft offences recorded in the City of Melbourne, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest figure in more than two decades.

Across Victoria, crime has risen to record levels, with theft from motor vehicles now one of the biggest drivers of overall offending. Victorians are paying the price through lost property, higher insurance premiums and reduced confidence in community safety.

This is no longer simply a matter of opportunistic theft. Organised criminal syndicates are increasingly using sophisticated technology to target modern vehicles. Key-cloning devices, electronic scanners and other tools are allowing offenders to bypass security systems and steal vehicles in a matter of minutes.

Southbank’s high-density apartment living presents another challenge. Large parking complexes can contain hundreds of vehicles, creating attractive targets for criminals. Even where vehicles are not stolen, theft from motor vehicles remains a growing problem, with offenders targeting tools, electronics, personal belongings and number plates.

The financial consequences are staggering. New insurance data released last week showed Victoria recorded more than 12,500 motor vehicle theft claims in 2025, costing insurers $243 million. That was a 25 per cent increase on the previous year and a bill larger than all the other mainland states combined.

Metropolitan Melbourne alone recorded 10,400 claims worth $205 million, with claim volumes up 30 per cent. Meanwhile, every other mainland state recorded stable or falling theft claims.

Yet when challenged about Victoria’s worsening car theft crisis earlier this year, Police Minister Anthony Carbines sought to shift responsibility onto vehicle manufacturers, arguing they should make cars harder to steal. Despite fresh evidence that Victoria is increasingly an outlier following the release of insurance claim data, he doubled down on that approach.

Victorians deserve better than excuses. They deserve a government focused on preventing crime, supporting police and holding offenders accountable.

The Victorian Liberals have been clear that community safety must be a priority. That means stronger consequences for serious repeat offenders, greater support and resources for Victoria Police, tougher action against organised crime networks and practical crime prevention measures that stop offending before it occurs.

Every resident deserves to feel safe in their home, on their street and when parking their car. For Southbank residents, bringing down car crime must be part of that effort. •