“All people have to do is enter the registration, make and model of the suspect vehicle,” Vehicle Crime Squad Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald said.
Information is drawn from Victoria Police's Law Enforcement Assistance Program as well as VicRoads and the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System.
It is refreshed every time a report of a stolen vehicle is added to each database.
When a stolen vehicle is recovered by police, it is removed from the system.
The tool aims to help police recover stolen vehicles quicker.
In the past year, police have recovered around 80 per cent of stolen cars.
“While the majority of stolen vehicles are recovered, as a community, it will take all of us working together to stop thefts happening in the first place,” Det Insp Macdonald said.
“Car theft isn’t just an inconvenience. It impacts someone’s sense of safety.”
Victoria Police continues working to address car theft with targeted proactive patrols in hotspots, as new data reveals one in three cars stolen in Victoria were parked on residential streets.
The Crime Statistics Agency figures show 10,151 of the 30,985 cars stolen in the year to March were on the street.
It is double the 5031 stolen from houses and more than triple the number stolen from single-level car parks, where 3148 offences were recorded.
“Where possible we encourage people to park their vehicle off the street and in a garage if they have one available,” Det Insp Macdonald said.
“Anti-theft devices such as a steering wheel lock and OBD port lock also help deter would-be thieves.”
Police intelligence also shows a majority of stolen cars are popular makes and models with push start ignitions.
Thieves use key-mimicking and cloning technology to override car security systems.
“We know cars with push start ignitions are a particular target, with thieves using technology to enable their offending,” Det Insp Macdonald said.
"Police are seeing proof of this with on-board diagnostic devices showing up more frequently during intercepts of suspicious vehicles.“
Police suggest vehicles should always be locked, even if parked at home, and never left running when unattended.
The new tool has already been used online by around 8000 users since the initial soft launch on August 24.
If you suspect a vehicle is stolen or abandoned, you can report it to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
If the vehicle is abandoned, you can contact your local council and it will co-ordinate the collection.
If you require immediate police assistance, phone 000.
The online stolen vehicle tool can be found at police.vic.gov.au/stolen-vehicle-check-victoria.
11°C