4530.0 - Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2017-18 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/02/2019   
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MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCED MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT IN 2017–18? (Table 1)

During the 2017–18 reference period, an estimated 0.6% of households (54,500) experienced motor vehicle theft.

EXPERIENCE OF MULTIPLE VICTIMISATION (Table 12)

Approximately 95% of households (52,000) that experienced a motor vehicle theft experienced a single incident.

WHETHER MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO POLICE (Table 24)

Approximately 95% of households (51,500) that experienced motor vehicle theft reported the most recent incident to police.

OTHER SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF MOST RECENT INCIDENT (Table 24)

In the most recent incident of motor vehicle theft, common locations where motor vehicle theft occurred were at a home location (50% or 27,100) and in the street or other open land (37% or 20,200).



THEFT FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE

HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCED THEFT FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE IN 2017–18? (Tables 1 and 21)

During the 2017–18 period, an estimated 3.1% of households (287,200) experienced theft from a motor vehicle.

The following groups were more likely to experience a theft from a motor vehicle in the last 12 months:

  • households in a capital city (3.3%) compared to the balance of state (2.6%)
  • houses (3.2%) compared to apartments (2.2%).

EXPERIENCE OF MULTIPLE VICTIMISATION (Table 12)

Of all households that experienced a theft from a motor vehicle during the 2017–18 reference period:
  • 85% (243,700) experienced a single incident
  • 12% (33,500) experienced two incidents
  • 3.5% (10,000) experienced three or more incidents.

WHETHER MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO POLICE (Table 25)

Just over half of all households (54% or 155,700) that experienced theft from a motor vehicle had their most recent incident reported to police.

Over one-quarter of households (27% or 77,100) that experienced theft from a motor vehicle did not report the incident to police, as it was considered to be too trivial or unimportant. A further 12% (34,100 households) did not report the incident to police as it was believed that there was nothing the police could do.

OTHER SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF MOST RECENT INCIDENT (Table 25)

In the most recent incident of theft from a motor vehicle experienced by households:
  • the most common type of property stolen was money, purse, or a wallet (43% or 122,800 households), followed by other personal items (28% or 79,900 households)
  • the most common location of theft from a motor vehicle was the person's home (73% or 210,700 households), followed by in the street or other open land (11% or 32,400 households).