The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council has rushed to reassure motorists that carjackings are not on the rise.

Executive Director Ray Carroll told insuranceNEWS.com.au there is no evidence behind media reports claiming a spike in violence-related car robberies.

He says media reports have highlighted a number of carjacking in the greater Sydney area. Police received five reports of motorists being threatened by armed offenders in the Sydney area in February, but the council believes this has not been representative of a rise in these kinds of offences.

Currently 40-50 carjackings take place in NSW each year, which represents just 0.3% of the 16,600 thefts in 2010. Nationally the rates for “carjacking” are even lower at just 0.1% of thefts.

“A small cluster of these high-profile events over a short period of time in one city can easily give the impression that the incidence is rising sharply,” Mr Carroll told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

But 99% of car thieves avoid getting involved in confrontations.

He says carjacking is believed to be more about using the vehicle for other criminal behaviour rather than for car rebirthing.

“These cars are generally stolen [to use] as getaway cars in other violent crimes, and are generally found a couple of hours or days after these crimes have been committed,” Mr Carroll said.