Car Theft In Australia Essay

720 ABC Perth Radio’s article “Alarming Rise in Car Thefts in WA Prompts Warning to Hide Keys”, published 19th October 2014, provides evidence demonstrating a sharp rise in car theft in Perth, in the three years leading up to 2013. It states that this rise is due the relaxation of security standards in and around the home and is also a seasonal crime. In addition, external sources such as statistics from the Western Australian Police demonstrate a comparison, highlighting similarities and differences in the article. Finally, a comparison of motor theft crime between states in Australia will demonstrate Western Australia’s standing against the rest of Australia.

Criminal Reasoning

720 ABC’s article points out that most car thefts occur in summer, as an increasing number windows and doors in homes are left open. According to research surveying 429 people in Perth, from Edith Cowan University in partnership with Western Australian Police, nearly one third of people surveyed leave their cars unlocked in their own garage or when parked outside their house (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2014). The article also suggested that “57% said their cars were broken into whilst parked at home” (Australian Broadcasting

Comparatively, car theft in Victoria makes up just under 11% of all theft, which has risen 1% from 2012/13 (Victoria Police, 2014). In Queensland, car theft makes up just under 14% of all theft, similar to 2012/13 (Queensland Police, 2014). These statistics demonstrate that Western Australia, relative to many of the eastern states, does not particularly stand out. This poises a question to the ABC’s media article. Is car theft really as “alarming” as the article so declares in its title? The differentiating factor however, is the growth rate of car