Holden Commodores are the most popular cars targeted by thieves in Victoria as the state's crime wave hits crisis levels.
Vehicle theft has soared by 42.1 per cent in the 12 months to June 2025 - levels not seen in two decades - according to new data from the Crime Statistics Agency.
Of the 33,108 motor vehicle thefts reported, Holden Commodores topped the list with 1,683 cars stolen - an 83 per cent rise on the previous year.
Toyota models were also targeted, particularly the HiLux ute (918), Corolla (851), Camry (666), and Land Cruiser (612) rounding out the top five.
The Toyota Rav4 and Hiace also made the top ten, comprising a mix of work and family vehicles, alongside the Ford Falcon, Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Golf.
While outside the top ten, Toyota 86 sports car and Hyundai models also recorded significant rises in theft.
Statistics also revealed that youths were responsible for more than a quarter (26.4 per cent) of car thefts.
'Truly, Victoria is in the grips of a significant crime wave. You can't say anything more,' Magistrate Brett Sonnet told a court last week.
'Issues of theft of motor vehicles can no longer be described as prevalent; they're rampant.'
Many thieves used cheap electromagnetic-blocking gadgets to bypass keyless access and starting technology - a common feature in cars since the mid-2010s.
More than 800 of these devices were seized from alleged offenders in the past year.
'Car theft is trending towards levels not seen in Victoria since vehicle immobilisers became commonplace,' a Victoria Police spokesperson recently told The Australian.
'Police continue to arrest a significant number of offenders in possession of key reprogramming devices.'
The Insurance Council of Australia revealed last month that Victoria experienced the highest annual increase in motor vehicle theft insurance claims on record.
The Garden State recorded a 59 per cent increase in motor theft claims and a 70 per cent increase in incurred costs - with more than 12,000 claims totalling $223 million in the 12 months to June.
The majority of claims were in Melbourne, where a 70 per cent rise was recorded.
Costs soared by a staggering 80 per cent, totalling 10,000 claims and $183 million in insured losses.
Queensland saw the largest reduction in motor theft claims, with a 11 per cent decline to 6,000.
'Motor theft claims have been climbing significantly over the last decade, and while they only make up a small part of overall motor claims, this is a growing concern,' ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said.
'Everyone pays for car theft, through increased costs of policing, courts and ultimately insurance. We cannot accept this level of car crime as normal in Australia.'