The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has called on the Victorian Government to take urgent action to tackle rising crime, vehicle theft and repeat offending across regional communities.
Ms Broad said residents across Northern Victoria were increasingly sharing personal stories of home invasions, vehicle theft and violent crime, with victims often left to deal with lasting trauma.
“Behind every crime statistic is a person and a family who has been affected,” Ms Broad said.
“Residents should be able to feel safe in their own homes, but we are hearing far too many stories of people being confronted by intruders and having their cars stolen from their properties.
“I know people whose cars have been stolen from the front of their house and a family that had intruders come into their home to find their car keys and steal their vehicles while their kids slept upstairs.”
Ms Broad said more than 132,600 vehicles were stolen across Victoria in a single year from March 2025 to March 2026 – equivalent to a car being stolen every 16.5 minutes.
In Northern Victoria, more than 2,200 vehicles were stolen in Greater Bendigo, while Campaspe recorded more than 750. In Wodonga there were over 760, in the Yarra Ranges more than 1300 and in Whittlesea, nearly 3780 cars were stolen.
“Every stolen vehicle has a significant impact on families and communities, and residents are now also raising concerns about stolen and abandoned vehicles being left on roadsides for months.
“The Victorian Government must strengthen bail laws, increase police numbers and ensure repeat offenders are held accountable,” Ms Broad said.
“The Nationals in government are committed to recruiting 3,000 new police officers and introducing ‘break bail, face jail’ laws so offenders who breach bail conditions face jail, strengthening legal protections for Police and increasing sentencing for pursuit-related harms.”
Ms Broad called on the Minister for Police to outline what immediate steps the Government will take to reduce vehicle theft, address repeat offending and ensure stolen and abandoned vehicles are promptly removed from Victorian roadsides.
“Regional Victorians deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities and deserve action.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
