Victoria Tops Nation in Theft and Robbery Claims, Insurers Call for Urgent Action

Victoria is leading the nation in theft and robbery claims, with over $300 million in insurance claims made in the 2025-26 financial year. The Insurance Council has called for urgent action to address the issue, citing a car stolen or broken into every 43 minutes and a home broken into every two hours.

Stark Figures

New data reveals Victorians made more than $240 million in claims over 12,300 motor vehicle thefts or burglaries, a figure higher than every other capital city combined. The data also shows a nation-leading 3,900 property-related theft and burglary claims were made over the same period in Victoria, costing more than $56 million.

The council's chief executive Andrew Hall said the stark figures meant a car in Victoria was stolen or broken into every 43 minutes and a home broken into every two hours.

"We normally don't release this level of data, but we felt a deep obligation when we saw the extent to which crime rates were climbing," Mr Hall said.

"It's now half a billion dollars a year in car theft [claims] in Australia, and half of that is coming from Victoria."

Reasons Behind the Figures

The ICA report said the average motor vehicle claim in Australia grew more than 40 per cent in the five years to 2024, with costs partly attributed to rising prices for parts.

"Labour shortages across the supply chain often means repairs can take longer, leading to inflated claims costs," the report said.

"One result of this is that replacement cars are needed for longer, resulting in an increase in hire costs of almost 70 per cent since 2019."

The report said Victoria also led the country when it came to the cost of claims, with the average collision repair costing almost $7,000.

Organised Crime a Concern

Mr Hall identified organised crime networks as a major concern, with the ICA aware of a global black market fuelled by demand for car parts from countries that face economic sanctions.

"We're seeing cars that are being stolen off the streets here in Melbourne, ending up in shipping containers in Dubai," Mr Hall said.

Government Response

Premier Ben Carroll conceded he was concerned about high crime rates, but said it would remain a focus of his government.

"The tobacco shops are now being shut down," he said, referring to laws that came into effect this week.

"Should we have done things quicker? Of course we should have. But we are doing it now."

Calls for Government-Led Disaster Recovery

The ICA report also identified issues with Victoria's disaster recovery and clean-up systems, calling for a government-led recovery model.

The council criticised the government limiting its support to the uninsured and underinsured, saying "tension was created between those who have access to government support and those who do not".

More than 450 homes were lost during bushfires across Victoria in January this year.