New research shows more than half of vehicle thefts and car break-ins occur in the owner’s garage, driveway or a nearby street.

AAMI says 13% of Australian drivers have been victims of a car break-in, and 51% of these incidents occurred at the owner’s home or nearby.

A new survey says only 4% of survey respondents have had a car stolen, with 49% of them from the owner’s home or a street close by.

Of the items stolen from cars, 31% was cash, 18% CDs, 17% sunglasses and clothing and 15% car stereos or portable music players.

AAMI spokesman Mike Sopinski says nearly a third of drivers nationally admit they sometimes leave personal possessions easily visible in their unattended cars.