Nrma Winning War Against Car Theft
Newcastle Herald
Friday April 16, 1999
THE number of cars being stolen throughout NSW are declining, according to NRMA president Nicholas Whitlam.
Mr Whitlam, visiting Newcastle yesterday to launch the NRMA's new membership card and member benefits program, said the battle against car theft had gone `relatively well' in the past year.
`Car theft dropped by about 10% last year and we are working well with the police to continue that trend,' Mr Whitlam said.
He said institutionalised theft, better known as car rebirthing, had been targeted by the insurance giant and the police.
`I think we've been very successful with that. We've been working with the police targeting different types of rebirthing methods,' Mr Whitlam said.
Rebirthing is a term used by police and insurance companies to describe the practice of stealing cars and changing their identities so they can be sold legitimately.
Mr Whitlam said all national motoring clubs were working with their State police forces to combat the practice, adding there had been some `significant' breakthroughs.
© 1999 Newcastle Herald