CAR thieves using electronic key reprogramming devices to steal vehicles are being targeted by police.
Three people have been convicted recently for using the devices.
A 34-year-old man received a two-year sentence after stealing a Nissan Patrol from a dealership on Dandenong Road in Frankston, which was later found in Seaford with an electronic key reprogramming tool inside. A 27-year-old man was sentenced to eight months in prison after stealing a 2016 Holden Clubsport wagon parked on Cliff Road in Frankston. He used a key mimicking tool to break into the car. A 34-year-old man from Cranbourne North was also seen by Frankston police in March in a stolen Toyota Fortune, which was taken from Lyndhurst using a reprogramming device, police say.
Frankston crime investigation unit detective senior sergeant Greer Goldsmith said more people have been arrested and are before the courts for using the devices. “Keys aren’t needed with this technology, which means owners can do all the right things – lock their car and keep the keys somewhere safe inside a locked home – and their cars can still be stolen,” Goldsmith said.
“We are asking owners to firstly lock their vehicles and where possible, park off the street to help lower the chances of having their car stolen. They can also purchase port devices that decrease the effectiveness of key mimicking tools and slow down the offender substantially. A small expense now could save you tens of thousands of dollars by not having to replace your vehicle if it’s stolen.
“While this technology is proving challenging for local police, we can assure residents and visitors that we are apprehending offenders and holding them to account, which is evident in the lengthy community service, or even stints behind bars, handed to car thieves.”
Victoria Police statistics have revealed that vehicle theft is at its highest level in Victoria since 2002.
Corollas made between 2015 and 2024 were the most commonly stolen in June this year, followed by Hilux utes manufactured between 2016 and 2023, and Landcruisers. Rav4s, Toyota 86s, and Prados are also frequently stolen.
First published in the Frankston Times – 22 July 2025