An unprecedented collaboration led by a group of Shepparton car dealers, police and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) brought to the forefront social and criminal issues facing regional Victoria – and indeed the rest of Australia – with a positive sharing of information and potential solutions.

The problems in Shepparton were brought to the attention of the police and VACC by chamber member John Mathieson of Mathieson Motors who, with the VACC, organised a meeting to combat what was quickly termed an epidemic.

In the past two weeks, Shepparton had a robbery of a dealership that saw thieves drive away with Toyota vehicles more than $400,000 combined, plus tools and keys of other vehicles, over two consecutive weekend days.

Toyota LandCruiser Prado

VACC industry policy adviser Michael McKenna and VACC’s head of media and communications David Dowsey attended a meeting with 12 Shepparton-based franchised dealers and four high-ranking police officers.

Police said the thefts involved more than stealing cars.

A group of criminals caused extensive damage to the Toyota dealership premises by removing fencing and building cladding, cutting into metal walls and frames and then breaking into a locked room and into that room’s locked safe to retrieve the vehicle keys.

Two of the vehicles were new LandCruiser Sahara models each worth, including options, about $125,000. One was to have been delivered to its customer the following day.

There were also two new Corollas and five used cars including HiLux, Kluger and Corolla models, along with keys for the stolen vehicles plus keys – worth about $800 each – of an additional 10 vehicles.

Four of the vehicles have been recovered and two were found burnt out, indicating thieves were covering DNA. That told police they had a criminal record. Police believe the groups are based in towns around Shepparton, including Echuca.

Police told the dealers and the VACC that there was a significant problem with crystal methamphetamine (ice) users in the district and the thefts showed a pattern similar to ice addicts, including the early-morning timing of the break-ins and the need to procure high-value goods to trade for money for drugs.

Mr McKenna said the recent spate of dealership robberies in Shepparton and across regional areas could have wide-reaching consequences beyond those immediately felt by the targeted dealerships.

“Insurance companies are now demanding higher levels of security from dealers. A local Mazda dealer reported that, in the week following the Shepparton haul, he invested $30,000 in new security equipment,” he said.

“There is a very real concern among those in the industry that insurance will either get incredibly expensive – unaffordable – or that dealers will face the same fate as the auto recycler, and insurance will be completely revoked.

“Such a move that would leave dealers unable to operate.”

How dealers can fight against break-ins and theft

• Change security protocols every six months, eliminating the risk of staff (past and present) unintentionally comprising dealership security
• Install GPS tracking devices in all stock vehicles
• Install CCTV systems
• Link CCTV with a mobile application, to enable remote access and authority alerts
• Invest in quality lighting, ideally linked to motion sensors, in a bid to hinder thieves and enhance CCTV footage
• Keep all vehicle keys secure in a locked box, inside a locked safe, within a locked room
• Install an alarm system
• Consider keeping guard dogs on the premises
• Be objective; review current business security measures and identify any potential weaknesses
• Be aware that the service zones of a business are often not as secure as the main dealership area; criminals have been known to gain access via a service centre and then use unsecured tools to break into other areas
• Keep a record of which employees have direct access to the key safe
• Maintain written protocols that detail which employees can access keys and introduce a key sign-out/return policy
• Replace door keys with swipe cards so that access can be easily disabled if/when necessary
• Install bollards to protect vulnerable glass and doors.

By Neil Dowling