Motor vehicle thefts fell 15% to 47,803 in the year to June, Australia’s lowest rate of that crime since 2001/02.

The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) says thefts fell across all vehicle types, with the category of “heavy/other vehicles” experiencing the largest decline of 22%, followed by 19% for motorcycle theft and 14% for passenger/light commercial theft.

Thefts in Victoria fell by a quarter and in SA by a fifth. In other states, Tasmania had a 13% decline, Queensland 10% and NSW 8%.

Profit-motivated thefts were down 17% for passenger/light commercial vehicles, 10% for motorcycles and 9% for heavy/other vehicles.

The NMVTRC will cease operations on September 30 after the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) decided not to renew its $1.125 million annual funding agreement. The Council was formed in 1999 to push reforms aimed at reducing vehicle theft across Australia.