Policing Brake On Car Theft In Hunter
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday January 14, 2003
CAR theft is dropping at a record rate across the Hunter, resulting in the lowest number of reported stolen vehicles since the early 1980s.
A comprehensive national survey of car theft trends found 22% fewer cars were stolen in Newcastle in the 12 months to last September, compared with the previous year.
The decline continued in most other areas.
Port Stephens dropped 20%, Maitland was down 12% and Lake Macquarie enjoyed the biggest reduction of 32%.
Cessnock was the only local government area in the Hunter to buck the downward trend, recording 11% more stolen vehicles than the previous 12 months.
The survey was a joint initiative of the Insurance Council of Australia and the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.
Overall, the region fared significantly better than the statewide average, which showed an 18% drop.
NSW Police Northern Region Commander Peter Parsons said the decline had continued and even accelerated in the Hunter in the final quarter of 2002.
`These results are very heartening for us and are an indication of a lot of hard work by a lot of people,' he said.
Assistant Commissioner Parsons said greater police focus on known car thieves together with cheaper engine immobilisers improved forensic technology and greater public awareness had helped curb the problem.
But motorists still needed to be vigilant.
`It goes without saying that where you have large numbers of motor vehicles parked unattended for any length of time, then that is going to be a hot spot,' Mr Parsons said.
`The offenders need time on their hands to be able to steal a car without being interrupted by security or large numbers of people walking around.'
National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council executive director Ray Carroll said a crackdown on the illegal vehicle `rebirthing' industry had further helped reduce demand for stolen cars.
Despite the decline, car theft still costs Australians $700-$800million a year.
Cars older than 10 years make up 70% of stolen cars Australia-wide, with the average insurance claim for car theft from July-September last year about $8400.
Most popular late-model vehicles for NSW car thieves included the Hyundai Excel, the Holden Commodore and the Toyota Hilux.
CAR THEFT Postcode Oct 2000-Sept 2001 Oct 2001-Sept 2002 Inc/Dec 2250 (Gosford) 512 429 -16% 2264 (Balcolyn, Bonnells Bay, 102 66 -35% Brightwaters, Dora Creek, Eraring, Mandalong, Mirrabooka, Morisset, Sunshine, Windermere Park) 2280 (Belmont, Croudace Bay, 202 115 -43% Floraville, Jewells, Marks Point, Valentine) 2281 (Blacksmiths, Cams Wharf, 127 49 -61% Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach, Nords Wharf, Pelican, Swansea) 2283 (Arcadia Vale, Awaba, Balmoral, 145 139 -4% Blackalls Park, Bolton Point, Buttaba, Carey Bay, Coal Point, Fassifern, Fennell Bay, Fishing Point, Kilaben Bay, Rathmines, Ryhope, Toronto) 2289 (Adamstown, Adamstown Hts 117 111 -5% Garden Suburb, Highfields, Kotara) 2290 (Bennetts Green, Charlestown, 414 291 -30% Dudley, Gateshead, Hillsborough, Kahibah, Mt Hutton, Redhead, Tingira Hts, Whitebridge) 2291 (Merewether, Merewether Hts, 94 61 -35% The Junction) 2300 (Bar Beach, Newcastle, The Hill) 304 211 -31% 2315 (Corlette, Fingal Bay, Nelson 58 59 +2% Bay, Shoal Bay) 2320 (Aberglasslyn, Allandale, 229 199 -13% Rothbury, Rutherford, Telarah, Bolwarra, Largs, Lorn, Maitland, Pokolbin) 2325 (Aberdare, Watagan, Wollombi, 288 303 +5% Bellbird, Cessnock, Ellalong, Millfield)
© 2003 Newcastle Herald
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