The steep decline in vehicle thefts continued last year, with 14% fewer passenger cars stolen and 10% fewer light commercial vehicles taken.

There were 32,948 short-term thefts – stolen and later recovered – of passenger and light commercial vehicles, according to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.

Profit-motivated theft, in which vehicles are not recovered, hit a five-year low of 10,432.

Executive Director Ray Carroll told insuranceNEWS.com.au that police targeting vehicle theft, and tracking down known offenders, is having a result.

He also believes fewer young people are attracted to the crime because they are more engaged with electronic games.

Mr Carroll says last year’s decline breaks the traditional correlation between rising youth unemployment and an increase in car theft.

Vehicle theft peaked in 1992, when 14 vehicles, including motorbikes, were stolen per 1000 on the road. Last year the rate was 2.7 per 1000.

Although the annual figures showed an improvement, results in the December quarter were mixed.

Short-term theft of passenger and light commercial vehicles grew 7% on the third quarter, to 8355. Profit-motivated theft fell to its lowest quarterly figure since 2009, down 8% to 2484 vehicles.

Short-term motorcycle theft grew 19%, with 915 stolen, while theft for profit fell 7% to 1188.

Victoria recorded the largest increase in short-term theft, up 27% to 478 in the quarter, followed by WA, rising 20% to 201. Queensland and SA reported falls and NSW and the NT had marginal increases, while the ACT was stable.

For profit-motivated theft, NSW and Queensland recorded the largest declines – 18% and 9% respectively. Tasmania, Victoria and SA recorded marginal decreases, WA had an 18% increase and the NT and ACT remained stable.