The Insurance Council of Australia reported that WA motor theft claims fell 15% in 2025, but nationally there were still around 29,000 motor theft claims, costing $485 million (ICA, June 2026). Here's how to make your car a harder target.
1. Protect your keys
Most modern cars are stolen with their own keys, often taken in a home break-in. Keep keys out of sight and away from the front door, and never leave them in the car, even in your driveway.
If your car has keyless entry, store the fob in a signal-blocking pouch or tin overnight. That stops "relay" attacks, where thieves boost the fob's signal from outside your house.
2. Park smart
- Use a locked garage if you have one.
- On the street, park in well-lit areas with foot traffic or cameras.
- Turn the wheels towards the kerb and use the handbrake. It makes towing harder.
- Don't leave valuables, spare keys or registration papers in the car.
3. Add a visible deterrent
A steering wheel lock or a security sticker won't stop a determined thief, but it can make an opportunist move on to an easier car.
4. Fit an immobiliser you control
Most cars have a factory immobiliser, but thieves with the key get straight past it. A hardwired GPS tracker with an output can drive a relay that stops the engine restarting, switched from your phone.
5. Fit a hidden GPS tracker
A tracker won't stop a theft, but it's your best chance of getting the car back quickly, before it's stripped or moved interstate. Look for:
- Hardwired installation, hidden behind the trim. Plug-in OBD trackers are easy to find and pull out.
- Live updates while moving, not every few minutes.
- A backup battery and power-cut alerts.
- Ignition alerts, so you know the moment your car starts when it shouldn't.
Not sure which kind you need? Read hardwired vs OBD vs battery GPS trackers.
If your car is stolen
- Call police on 131 444 (or 000 if it's happening now) and report it. Don't try to recover the car yourself.
- Give police the tracker's live location. You can share it from the GeoGuard app.
- Call your insurer as soon as you can.
