Melbourne Airport car theft hits record highs, new data reveals

New data confirms car theft at Melbourne Airport is a growing issue, with 2025 recording the highest volumes from the Melbourne Airport postcode on record.

Stolen motor vehicle data for the postcode of 3045 (Melbourne Airport) recorded 252 offences in 2025, an increase of 42 per cent from 2024.

This data, supplied to Drive by Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), confirms sentiments circulating on social media that, while thefts from airport parking have been occurring for decades, they have been increasing.

Victoria Police issued a warning earlier this year concerning car thefts at Melbourne Airport.

“Victoria Police intelligence indicates there has been approximately 50 cars stolen from Melbourne Airport so far this year,” said a Victoria Police spokesperson.

“Car theft in Victoria has spiked significantly in recent years, and unfortunately cars that are parked at the airport are not immune.”

Police warned of instances where car thieves at Melbourne airport had found the owner's home address from the vehicle's GPS, then stolen further items and vehicles from the owner's house.

This interactive image compares satellite imagery of Melbourne Airport between 2005 and 2026. Drag the vertical line to compare the images. The white outline shows the boundaries of the Melbourne Airport postcode.   

Victoria Police said it runs a dedicated operation at the airport, which “sees officers working closely with the Australian Federal Police and Melbourne Airport to target car thieves.”

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) did not answer specific questions from Drive, but said it has a "permanent presence at Melbourne Airport" and "works in close partnership with Victoria Police and Melbourne Airport to combat and deter vehicle thefts from the airport precinct."

2025 had the highest number of vehicle theft offences on record for the Melbourne Airport postcode, with the 252 figure surpassing the previous high of 212 offences in 2018.

Each offence does not necessarily represent a stolen car. Victoria Police typically combines actual and attempted motor vehicle thefts in its data, so all figures in this article are based on this combined total. Attempted thefts typically account for around 14 per cent of total recorded vehicle theft offences.

The postcode of 3045 used to almost solely include Melbourne Airport, and only 64 people are recorded as living in the 3045 postcode based on latest census data. But in recent decades, a number of external businesses have begun to fringe the airport.

These are mostly shipping operations such as FedEx, TGE, and DHL. Any vehicle thefts from these locations would be included in the data. 

Social media users have also reported car thefts from off-site airport car parks. These third-party parking operations are not run by Melbourne Airport and usually offer lower cost parking and a shuttle service to the airport.

These off-site car parks are outside of the Melbourne Airport postcode, so car thefts from these locations are not recorded in the graphs.

A Melbourne Airport spokesperson mirrored Victoria Police's advice to remove valuables from vehicles, and said the airport works with state and federal police to deter and respond to crime at the airport. 

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"Like many locations across Victoria, Melbourne Airport is experiencing the impacts of a broader rise in vehicle-related crime," said the spokesperson.

"While these incidents are not unique to the airport environment, we are committed to doing everything within our control to minimise risks and support enforcement efforts.

"We have a comprehensive range of security measures in place, including an extensive CCTV network across our precinct and 24/7 patrols by dedicated security personnel."

Rising car theft is not unique to Melbourne Airport. Victoria recorded 32,013 motor vehicle theft offences in 2025, a 10 per cent increase from 2024, and the highest total number in more than 20 years.

Victoria Police have blamed the wide availability of key reprogramming devices as the reason for Victoria's rocketing vehicle thefts in recent years, estimating the devices are used in one-in-three car thefts.

These devices, intended for use by mechanics and locksmiths, plug into a vehicle's on-board diagnostic (OBD) port and can bypass security measures on many popular models.

Police have specifically warned owners of some Holden, Toyota, and Subaru models with push-button start that their cars are particularly vulnerable.  

Owners of push-button start cars are encouraged by Victoria police to take precautions such as using a steering wheel lock, buying a lock for their on-board diagnostic (OBD) port, fitting an aftermarket immobiliser, and parking their car off the street.

Max is the News Publishing Coordinator for Drive. He enjoys creating engaging digital content, including videos, podcasts, interactive maps, and graphs. Prior to Drive, he studied at Monash University and gained experience working for various publications. He grew up playing Burnout 3: Takedown on the PS2 and was disappointed when real life car races didn’t have the same physics.

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