Recent figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) have revealed a concerning rise in both car break-ins and thefts across the Kiama Local Government Area.
The Kiama Community Facebook Page has seen frequent discussions about motor vehicle crime recently sparking concern among residents.
According to BOCSAR both motor vehicle theft and break-ins in the Kiama LGA have increased considerably in recent years. Notably, motor vehicle theft rates increased from 121.7 per 100,000 population in 2023 to 204.3 in 2024.
Furthermore, stealing from motor vehicle rates has also increased from 304.8 per 100,000 in 2022 to 382.6 in 2024, suggesting that overall, car-related crimes are a growing concern for the area.
Gerringong resident Angus Farrell was one of the many Kiama LGA community members to have experienced motor vehicle-related crime and said his car was stolen and involved in an incident with the police.
“I realised the car was missing when I went to leave for work at around 10am, so I called the police and told them that my vehicle was missing,” Mr Farrell said.
“The thief attempted to ram a police car when they were cornered on a rural road approximately 180km southwest of Gerringong.
“The collision with the police vehicle resulted in significant front-end damage to the car which made it undrivable.”
When comparing to neighbouring LGAs Shellharbour and Shoalhaven, Kiama’s motor vehicle-related crime numbers stand out. In 2024, Kiama’s motor vehicle theft rate (204.3 per 100,000 population) surpassed Shellharbour’s (193.1 per 100,000 population), with both LGAs seeing a drastic increase in rates from 2023.
Kiama’s rate of theft from motor vehicles is also substantially higher than in the Shoalhaven. This refers to when items from a car are stolen, usually during a break-in. As pictured, despite a significant rise in theft from motor vehicle crimes in Shoalhaven in 2023, the area experienced a large drop in 2024. Kiama also experienced a rise in 2023, however, the numbers continued to rise in 2024.
With the data from BOCSAR confirming the rise in car-related crimes in the Kiama LGA, community concerns are not unjustified.
In a Facebook update posted at the end of 2024, the local police district has urged Kiama residents to ensure they lock both their cars and their homes, as well as ensuring their keys are out of sight to avoid being easy targets.
Feature Image source: https://www.aaeac.com.au/how-to-protect-car-windows/
