South Australia rarely makes national headlines for car crime, and the recent numbers explain why: theft here is falling, and falling fast. But Adelaide still records around a thousand insurance theft claims a year, and the state's love affair with older Holdens keeps a steady supply of easy targets on the street.
The numbers
Insurance Council of Australia data for 2025 showed SA motor theft claims down around 14 per cent — one of the strongest improvements in the country, part of a nationwide decline that only Victoria bucked. Greater Adelaide accounts for the bulk of it, with metropolitan thefts outpacing regional ones (the same pattern as Victoria and WA, and the opposite of NSW and Queensland).
What thieves target
South Australia's fleet skews toward exactly what thieves like:
- Older Commodores — SA's Holden heritage means the state is full of pre-modern-security Commodores, the most stolen nameplate in the country.
- Toyota HiLux and LandCruiser — stolen for resale and parts, with lower recovery odds.
- High-volume commuters — Corollas and Camrys, taken because they're everywhere and blend in.
How cars are being stolen
The pattern mirrors the national one: the ABS estimates around six in ten thefts happen at a home, most often using the car's own keys taken in a break-in or from an unlocked house. Electronic theft of keyless models is the growth area, and number plate theft remains a steady problem — plates stolen in Adelaide's suburbs routinely turn up on other stolen cars.
Protecting your car
- Keep keys and spares away from entry points; keyless fobs live in a Faraday pouch.
- Off-street or garaged parking wherever possible.
- Anti-theft number plate screws — cheap, effective, five minutes to fit.
- OBD port lock for keyless models; steering lock for the old Commodore.
- A GPS tracker turns a bad week into a bad day.
Buying a used car? Check first
- Run a PPSR check for stolen status, write-off history and money owing.
- Match the VIN on the vehicle to the papers, and the seller's ID to the registered operator.
- A price well under market on a popular model deserves suspicion, not excitement.
If your car is stolen
Call 000 if it's happening now, or 131 444 to report it. Notify your insurer and Service SA, and monitor for fines or tolls in your name.
Figures reflect ICA reporting available in early 2026. SAPOL publishes current suburb-level crime statistics online.