Brazen thieves have been caught on camera attempting to steal an HSV Senator – a luxury/performance version of the Holden Commodore – in Melbourne, amid an epidemic of thefts of the once-popular homegrown family car.
Footage uploaded to X – formerly Twitter – by 3AW presenter Madelaine Burke shows a VF Holden Commodore SV6 and an FG Ford Falcon XT parked around the VF HSV Senator in Port Melbourne on February 9.
One person is already in the Senator when another climbs out of the Falcon with what appears to be an angle grinder, with sparks subsequently shown in the HSV’s cabin.
It appears the thieves were attempting to cut off its steering wheel-mounted Club Lock, which can be used as a temporary theft deterrent but is not a permanent solution to stop your car being stolen.
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6.30 this morning in Port Melbourne.
BYO angle grinder. pic.twitter.com/Kq5PUksFbS
— Madelaine Burke (@Madelaine_Burke) February 9, 2025
It’s not yet known whether the Senator was eventually stolen, however, the footage doesn’t appear to show the thieves undertaking the previous steps commonly followed by those who’ve recently stolen Commodores.
As previously reported, late-model Holden Commodores – especially V8-powered VFs – are being targeted as they can be easily started and stolen by criminals using an OBD-reading tool intended for mechanics and locksmiths.
The tool can be used to delete the original key paired to the car and then pair a new key, after thieves hack into the front bumper to disable the horn/alarm and unlock a door.
It’s a simple yet effective technique that has become all too common across Australia, leading VF Commodore owners to park up their cars in secure buildings to keep them as safe as possible from criminals.
While some stolen Commodores are being used to joyride, others are being rebirthed, whereby certain identifying features from multiple cars – such as their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) and chassis numbers – are being transferred to disguise them as another vehicle.
Temporary deterrents include mechanical devices such as Club Locks and Cop Locks, while a PIN-coded immobiliser and relocated horn could also help reduce the likelihood of your car being stolen.
Last week, a spokesperson for General Motors Australia and New Zealand (GMANZ) said it was “aware of reports of vehicle thefts where offenders are misusing an aftermarket locksmith’s tool sold for general vehicle use.”
“The purchase of this tool is currently unregulated.”
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