New data reveals up to 30 cars are now being stolen every day in Victoria using key-cloning technology, as officers seize more than 800 hacking devices from offenders in a single year.
Victoria Police said modern vehicles are increasingly being taken without forced entry, without keys, and often without the owner realising until it’s too late.
More than 10,000 vehicles are estimated to be stolen using this method each year in Victoria alone, accounting for more than a quarter of all thefts.
That surge has helped drive Victoria to become the worst state in the country for car theft, with 33,212 vehicles stolen in the year to September 2025, a nearly 30 per cent jump.
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Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill said key-cloning technology is now widespread among offenders and increasingly showing up during police operations.
“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,” he said.
“These devices are showing up more and more frequently at search warrants and during intercepts of suspicious vehicles.”
The technology at the centre of the crime allows thieves to bypass a car’s security system in minutes.
Using devices plugged into a vehicle’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) port, offenders can program a new key, even without the original key.
Police say cars fitted with push-button start systems are particularly vulnerable, with popular models increasingly targeted.
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Toyota LandCruiser thefts linked to technology surged from just 89 in 2022 to 846 in 2025, while Toyota RAV4 thefts jumped from 47 to 467 over the same period.
Subaru Impreza thefts have exploded, and even the Holden Commodore remains a major target, with more than 1200 stolen using the tech last year.
Police say these vehicles are often taken straight from residential streets, driveways and public car parks, with no signs of forced entry.
Melbourne suburbs, including Dandenong, Tarneit, Narre Warren, St Albans, Craigieburn, Reservoir and Southbank have been identified as major hotspots.
New areas emerging in 2026, including Berwick, Malvern East, Clayton and Glen Waverley, suggest the problem is spreading.
Despite the scale of the issue, police say around 80 per cent of stolen vehicles are recovered each year.
Mr Hill urged drivers to rethink how they protect their cars, pointing to simple but effective measures.
“The best thing you can do is park your car off the street and install antitheft devices,” he said.
