One-third of all vehicle thefts in Australia now occur in Victoria, with national figures up 6% in the year to March, according to the latest National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) data.

Victoria experienced a 30% spike in short-term theft in the year to March.

NMVTRC Executive Director Ray Carroll says the rise in thefts in Victoria coincides with the withdrawal of state government funding for the council.

He told insuranceNEWS.com.au that since the Government stopped its $300,000 annual funding, Victorian passenger car thefts have risen 32%, while the rest of Australia has declined 20%.

Victoria and Queensland are the only states that do not fund the initiative, which is matched dollar for dollar by insurers.

“If we were funded in Victoria we would have a close look at what we do with young offenders when they are arrested,” Mr Carroll said.

He blames gangs inspired by the infamous Pulsar and Apex gangs for the spike in Victorian car thefts, and says members treat going to juvenile detention or prison as “a badge of honour”.

“We need to have a wholesale look at young offenders and how we can redeem them before they’ve been in and out of juvenile detention.”

He says the Victorian Government must create more programs like the smash repair business Synergy, which rehabilitates young offenders through employment.

Synergy is an initiative of Suncorp, the NMVTRC and Mission Australia.

Of the 53,110 vehicles stolen nationally, 42,345 were passenger and light commercial (PLC) vehicles, up 7%, while motorcycle theft increased 4% to 8261 and “heavy and other” vehicle theft fell 8% to 2504.

Short-term PLC theft numbers increased 10% to 32,507, while profit-motivated cases decreased 1%.

Despite the overall 6% rise year on year, thefts were down 8% compared with five years ago.