Car theft warnings issued in Australia and New Zealand

Police in Wodonga, Victoria, warned motorists after a surge of vehicle thefts and break‑ins at the town’s railway station. Acting Senior Sergeant Matt Finger said thieves targeted models such as Holden Commodores, Toyota LandCruisers, Corollas, HiLuxes and RAV4s, often breaking windows and stealing items. He urged owners to avoid leaving cars unattended for long periods, to use anti‑theft devices like wheel locks, and to report incidents via the Police Assistance Line.

In Wellington, New Zealand, police alerted residents to a sophisticated relay‑attack method that can steal keyless‑entry cars without a physical key. Sgt Jon O’Connor explained that thieves amplify the signal from a key fob stored inside a home, allowing them to open and drive away vehicles. He recommended storing fobs in signal‑blocking pouches and using other security measures to deter organised‑crime groups.

Both agencies emphasized the growing risk posed by modern keyless‑entry technology and urged the public to adopt preventative steps to protect their vehicles.