Luxury car thefts skyrocket in Melbourne

There’s been a boom in thefts of German-made vehicles, new police figures reveal.

Four German manufacturers — Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi — make the top eight for the most stolen types of car in Victoria, but none of them are in the first eight for sales in Australia.

Police arrested 380 people statewide for aggravated burglary-linked care theft last year.

Theft of Mercedes-Benz vehicles is up 47 per cent year-on-year, while BMW thefts are up 226 per cent, and Volkswagen thefts are up 57 per cent.

Sandringham resident Vicki became one of the Melburnians who fell victim when her Volkswagen Touareg was taken from outside her home on Sunday night.

“You just never think it would happen to you,” she told Neil Mitchell.

Press PLAY below to hear Vicki’s story

Vicki’s white Volkswagen Touareg is still missing. The registration number is 1UW 2JT.

Anyone who sees it is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.