Carjackings in Victoria have climbed to troubling heights, with more than one incident reported daily over the past year. Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show 439 carjackings recorded in 2023, with three out of four involving young offenders.
The sharpest rise has occurred in the most violent categories. Aggravated and attempted aggravated carjackings jumped from 59 incidents in 2015 to 162 in 2023. Force was used in 86 cases last year—up from 35—while carjackings involving weapons tripled over eight years to 121. On top of that, 156 attempted carjackings were logged, many involving tactics that leave victims deeply shaken.
The broader picture is no less worrying. Carjackings are part of a wider upward trend in criminal activity, with overall crime in Victoria up 16 per cent and around 80 vehicles reportedly stolen every day.
David Southwick, the Shadow Minister for Police, has pinned responsibility squarely on Premier Jacinta Allan’s government, accusing it of losing control over community safety. “Victorians don’t feel safe,” he said. “What often goes unreported is the impact these carjackings have on victims, with many left traumatised and unable to recover from such violent attacks.”
Southwick has called for stronger laws to remove repeat offenders from the streets, more visible police patrols, and greater investment in early intervention programs.
The Allan Government says it is already acting. The Youth Justice Bill 2024, passed earlier this year, introduced a stricter bail test and added offences like carjacking, home invasion, and dangerous driving to a list of crimes considered unacceptable risks to public safety. Decision-makers must now weigh both the risk to the public and the likelihood of reoffending when considering bail for young suspects.
The government’s efforts, however, have drawn criticism. Legal experts and advocates have questioned whether the reforms strike the right balance between accountability and rehabilitation. A recent case involving a young offender known as MMA has brought those tensions into sharper focus. Accused of repeated carjackings and violent assaults, MMA was released multiple times on bail despite breaching conditions and reoffending. His case has been cited as an example of where policy and practice appear misaligned.
Police have stepped up their presence in response. A four-night blitz across Melbourne’s western suburbs last month led to 36 arrests and the seizure of multiple firearms, part of a broader push to disrupt vehicle-related crime networks.
Yet the rise in youth offending isn’t simply a matter of enforcement. Experts say a more nuanced approach is needed. Community leaders have long argued that addressing the social conditions behind youth crime is just as urgent as tightening laws.
The Youth Crime Prevention Program, backed by the Victorian Government, has been one such effort. It has reached more than 3,000 young people through sport, mentoring and skills-building programs, and provided case management to over 1,800 individuals aged 10 to 24 considered at risk of offending.
The program aims to steer young people away from offending by building trust and giving them something to lose—whether that’s a job, a spot on a team, or a mentor who checks in. While early reviews have shown promise, critics argue that these interventions need more stable funding and longer-term tracking to understand their full impact.
With community confidence wavering and pressure mounting from both ends of the political spectrum, the state is facing a difficult task. Victorians want to feel safe behind the wheel, and young offenders need to know that there are consequences—but also exits.
Whether the government’s mix of stricter laws and community programs can slow the rate of carjackings remains to be seen. For now, the reality on the ground is hard to ignore: each day brings another report of a car stolen at knifepoint, a driver shaken, a neighbourhood left uneasy.
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