A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about increased truck and 4WD thefts from rental companies in metropolitan Perth and Kalgoorlie, inquiring about organised crime involvement and police action. The response outlines national strategies to combat vehicle theft and re-birthing, but reports no arrests or convictions.

AnsweredQoN 382Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 June 2001
Portfolio
Police

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the Minister aware of concerns on the part of truck and 4WD rental companies over the unprecedented number of vehicle thefts, particularly trucks and 4WDs in the metropolitan area and Kalgoorlie in recent months?
(2) Given that thefts from at least eight major outlets have been reported by various companies, will the Minister give an assurance that the thefts are not part of an organised crime racket?
(3) What steps, if any, are being taken to tackle the problem confronting this section of the industry?
(4) Have any arrests and/or convictions been recorded in the past six months against offenders stealing rental trucks or 4WDs?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
11 September 2001
Responded by
Minister for Police
Response time
90 days
(2) Investigations in Western Australia and other Australian jurisdictions indicate it is unlikely that there is systemic involvement by large hierarchical organizations in motor vehicle theft. (3) The Western Australia Police Service is an active participant in the WA Motor Vehicle Theft Steering Committee and the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, an initiative of the National Anti Crime Strategy (established as an Australasian cross-jurisdictional Ministerial Forum) and the insurance industry. The Police Service has agreed to work nationally to meet the goals of the Council in an effort to implement a range of strategies to deliver long term reductions in motor vehicle related crime. An important issue in relation to motor vehicle theft is the re-birthing of motor vehicles. As part of the national strategy to combat this problem, a national database containing all details of wrecked vehicles has been proposed, and steps are underway to implement it. The result of this will be that when a vehicle is presented for registration, if the legitimate identification of the vehicle shows the vehicle has previously been written off, it will not be possible to register that vehicle. A number of investigations are currently being undertaken to identify persons of interest involved in the theft and re-birthing of stolen motor vehicles. (4) No arrests and/or convictions have been recorded. Notwithstanding, a series of protracted and involved investigations are currently being conducted into the issue of motor vehicle theft. These investigations are rated as protected.
(3) The Western Australia Police Service is an active participant in the WA Motor Vehicle Theft Steering Committee and the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, an initiative of the National Anti Crime Strategy (established as an Australasian cross-jurisdictional Ministerial Forum) and the insurance industry. The Police Service has agreed to work nationally to meet the goals of the Council in an effort to implement a range of strategies to deliver long term reductions in motor vehicle related crime. An important issue in relation to motor vehicle theft is the re-birthing of motor vehicles. As part of the national strategy to combat this problem, a national database containing all details of wrecked vehicles has been proposed, and steps are underway to implement it. The result of this will be that when a vehicle is presented for registration, if the legitimate identification of the vehicle shows the vehicle has previously been written off, it will not be possible to register that vehicle. A number of investigations are currently being undertaken to identify persons of interest involved in the theft and re-birthing of stolen motor vehicles. (4) No arrests and/or convictions have been recorded. Notwithstanding, a series of protracted and involved investigations are currently being conducted into the issue of motor vehicle theft. These investigations are rated as protected.
An important issue in relation to motor vehicle theft is the re-birthing of motor vehicles. As part of the national strategy to combat this problem, a national database containing all details of wrecked vehicles has been proposed, and steps are underway to implement it. The result of this will be that when a vehicle is presented for registration, if the legitimate identification of the vehicle shows the vehicle has previously been written off, it will not be possible to register that vehicle. A number of investigations are currently being undertaken to identify persons of interest involved in the theft and re-birthing of stolen motor vehicles. (4) No arrests and/or convictions have been recorded. Notwithstanding, a series of protracted and involved investigations are currently being conducted into the issue of motor vehicle theft. These investigations are rated as protected.
A number of investigations are currently being undertaken to identify persons of interest involved in the theft and re-birthing of stolen motor vehicles. (4) No arrests and/or convictions have been recorded. Notwithstanding, a series of protracted and involved investigations are currently being conducted into the issue of motor vehicle theft. These investigations are rated as protected.
(4) No arrests and/or convictions have been recorded. Notwithstanding, a series of protracted and involved investigations are currently being conducted into the issue of motor vehicle theft. These investigations are rated as protected.

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