The number of car thefts dropped marginally in the March quarter, according to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.

Short-term thefts of passenger and light commercial (PLC) vehicles totalled 8092 in the three months, down 1% on the December quarter. Profit-motivated thefts of such vehicles fell 2%.

Executive Director Ray Carroll believes vehicle immobilisation technology has had a major impact. Such systems have been mandatory in new cars sold here since 2001, and the council estimates 75% of the nation’s PLC fleet is now fitted with the devices.

“A car without an immobiliser is at twice the risk of being stolen,” Mr Carroll said.

However, the technology has had a displacement effect, with thieves now targeting older cars or stealing keys to bypass anti-theft systems.

In WA – which introduced compulsory immobilisation systems in 1999 – 95% of cars have the devices fitted. Four out of 10 cars stolen in the state are taken using stolen keys.

The long-term trend of declining car thefts is good news for the insurance industry: since 2001 claims have fallen from $400 million to about $160 million a year.

In New Zealand, car theft has decreased by about 13,000 vehicles over the past four years, but owners of older cars are bearing the brunt because new models are too difficult to steal.

AA Insurance’s annual list of the 10 most stolen car models shows the average value of a stolen vehicle is $NZ4977 ($4519). The Honda Torneo is New Zealand’s most frequently stolen car for the third consecutive year.