What Thieves Are Actually Taking
A car taken after a home invasion. Tools lifted from a work vehicle. Stock gone from a shop. Keys, laptops and, in one recent Melbourne case, racks of high-value hair extensions. Theft does not always look the way people expect.
Victoria’s numbers make the point. Insurance Council of Australia data released in September shows more than 12,300 motor vehicle theft or burglary claims were lodged in Victoria in 2025-26, costing insurers about $244 million, up from $52 million in 2021-22. Every other state and territory recorded a decline.
Thieves target what is easy to move
In recent Melbourne salon burglaries, offenders reportedly ignored the cash and went for hair extensions, wigs, styling tools and laptops. It makes sense: the stock was valuable, portable and easy to sell on. The same logic applies to power tools, electronics, machinery parts and vehicle keys in almost any business.
Not every theft is the same claim
A stolen vehicle is a different claim from stolen business stock. Equipment taken from a work vehicle or job site may be treated differently from contents kept at your premises, and high-value items can carry specific limits or conditions. Whether a theft also leads to a business interruption claim depends on the policy and what actually happened.
Proving what was there
After a theft, insurers may ask what you owned, what was there at the time and what it was worth, and it is up to the person making the claim to show it. A recent ombudsman decision on a $200,000 jewellery claim turned largely on whether the policyholder could show the items were in her car and that she owned them.
These records are easy to create beforehand and hard to recreate afterwards, when your attention is split between police, repairs, staff and customers. It is worth keeping:
Photos or a quick video walkthrough of your home, premises, stock and equipment
Receipts, invoices and warranties for higher-value items
Serial and model numbers for electronics, tools and machinery
A current stock list or asset register
CCTV footage, saved quickly before it is overwritten
When what you own changes
For businesses, what you hold can change faster than your insurance. Stock values rise, new equipment arrives and staff start taking tools offsite. None of it is dramatic on its own, but together it can change the shape of the risk. If the nature or value of what you own has changed, let us know before a claim tests the assumption.
This article is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Please speak with your broker about your specific circumstances.
