Last year, thieves robbed Toowoomba woman Janice Humphreys of one of the last links she had to her daughter — the car she drove before she died six years ago.
She was one of thousands across the state to have had a vehicle stolen across Queensland last year.
And, according to market comparison service Compare the Market, Queensland now has the unfortunate title as the state or territory where you are most likely to get your car stolen. As a result, service providers are seeing a surge in people taking measures to protect their property.
The Queensland government is already moving forward with a plan to roll out 20,000 subsidised immobiliser devices in theft hotspots – Cairns, Townsville and Mount Isa.
The program aims to tackle youth crime after a series of high profile deaths allegedly caused by youth offenders.
'Mine and Jodie's base'
Ms Humphreys said it was heartbreaking to see her daughter Jodie's car stolen, which she kept for its sentimental value.
"That was mine and Jodie's base. I'd hop in the car, and say, 'Where are we going today?'
"We'd go shopping, and we'd be chatting all day while we drove.
"Some days I could even smell her in the car," Ms Humphries said.
Her husband John's rare vintage car was also stolen that day, and she said it has had lasting consequences.
"We don't sleep properly. Any vehicle that comes up the court and drives back out, we're looking to see, 'What are they doing? Are they stalking?'"
The Toowoomba retiree and her husband are now installing anti-theft immobilisers in their replacement vehicle and bollards in their driveway.
Increase in stolen car claims
Queensland's peak motoring body – the RACQ – says claims to April have risen by more than a third since 2020.
Between May 2020 and April 2021, 1,180 claims were made for stolen cars.
In the 12 months to April 2023, that had risen to 1,661.
The most claims came from Brisbane at 405, followed by the Gold Coast, Townsville and Logan.
The rise in car thefts is a trend also seen by companies installing immobiliser devices – which either use hard wired or software devices to prevent theft.
Craig Dwyer from Brisbane business Complete Car Sound said some of his clients were victims of crime, getting the devices installed in replacement cars.
"We've be probably seen four to five times more in sales in the last six months," he said.
Mr Dwyer said there had also been a rise in popularity of old-school immobilisers – which require a code on ignition.
Four days after a triple-fatality in Queensland's Wide Bay allegedly caused by a 13-year-old offender in a stolen car, Police Minister Mark Ryan said the government's immobiliser program is moving forward.
"As long as crime is happening, the government will never give up," he said.
It's due to go to industry consultation next week but the specifics of who will be eligible are still being worked out.
Mr Ryan said it will likely roll out by the middle of the year.
Andrew Kirk from the RACQ said immobilisers are not foolproof.
"There could be other things that we could do, rather than trying to prevent the theft of the car, more along the lines of tracking the vehicle once it has been stolen.
"What we find is that even though immobilisers work, if people break in, get your keys, they can still take the car," he said.
