En resumen
- Protect the keys first: hide them at home (not on the bench or a key rack), never leave a spare in the car, and keep keyless fobs in a signal-blocking pouch.[1][2]
- Lock the car every time, even at home or while paying for fuel, and park off-street or in well-lit places with CCTV.[2][1]
- Layer security: a steering lock, immobiliser or alarm, a GPS tracker, and anti-theft screws on the number plates.[1][2]
- If it's stolen, call 000 if it's happening now, otherwise report it to Policelink on 131 444.[3]
Why are your keys the first thing to protect?
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) advice to Brisbane drivers keeps coming back to keys, because a thief with the key doesn't need to break anything:[1][2]
- Hide your keys at home, not on the kitchen bench or a key rack, and away from doors and windows where they can be seen or reached.[1][2]
- Carry your keys with you, even when the car is parked at home.[2]
- Never hide a spare key on or in the car. Police say it's one of the first places thieves check.[2]
- Don't label keys with your address or the car's details.[2]
- Keep a keyless fob in a signal-blocking pouch if your car has keyless entry.[1]
Securing the house matters for the same reason: QPS lists a secure home alongside locking the car, because the keys are inside it.[3]
Where and how should you park?
Park off the street if you can, ideally behind locked gates or in a locked garage; QPS notes that street parking may increase the risk.[1] If you use a garage, lock both the car and the garage.[2] Away from home, choose well-lit, busy places, ideally covered by CCTV, and if you have security cameras at home, park where they can see the car.[2][1]
Lock it every time. Police use the example of paying for fuel: lock the car even if you're stepping away for a minute.[2] The same goes for a car parked in your own driveway.[1]
If you're choosing somewhere to live, a lock-up garage or secure car space is worth asking about at inspections.
Which anti-theft devices are worth considering?
QPS describes layering security, several measures at once, as a way to significantly reduce the risk.[1] The devices it suggests:
| Measure | What it does |
|---|---|
| Steering wheel lock, pedal box or wheel clamp[1] | A visible physical barrier that slows a thief down |
| Car alarm or immobiliser[1][2] | Draws attention, or stops the engine starting without the key |
| GPS tracker with live monitoring[1] | Helps find the car if it's taken |
| Lockable fuel cap, roof racks and spare wheel[2] | Protects the accessories thieves take from cars |
| Anti-theft number plate screws[2] | Makes plates harder to steal for use on another car |
QPS also offers a security assessment of your home or business by a District Crime Prevention Coordinator.[1] In north Brisbane, police have offered residents free anti-theft plate screws.[2]
What about theft from your car?
Police say theft from vehicles is a growing problem in Brisbane, alongside theft of vehicles, and that most offenders are opportunistic, taking advantage of small oversights. Cash, personal items, documents with your details and even registration plates are taken.[2]
Take valuables with you, or at the very least keep them well out of sight.[2][1] That includes bags, laptops, phone chargers left on the seat, and anything with your name and address on it, such as mail or a registration notice in the glovebox. Police are acting on it: as of 9 August 2026, Brisbane police had charged 962 offenders with 1,474 car theft offences under Operation Yankee Forge.[1] Report suspicious activity through Policelink on 131 444 or its online form, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.[1]
What should you do if your car is stolen?
- Call Triple Zero (000) if you're watching it being stolen, can see it with people in it, or are following it.[3]
- Report it to Policelink on 131 444 (or online) if you've found it gone and the theft isn't happening now.[3]
- Don't try to stop it yourself. If you spot a stolen car, police say report it rather than intercept it.[3]
- When it's found, police contact you once it's ready for release; if you're insured, check with your insurer before collecting it, and get towing approval if it's damaged.[3] You may be eligible for help with towing costs under the Towing of Motor Vehicles Scheme.[3]
Whether you're covered depends on your policy: theft is covered by comprehensive insurance and by third party, fire and theft cover, but not by CTP or third party property damage alone.[4] What CTP does cover is in CTP insurance in Queensland, and the claim, payout and getting around afterwards are in car written off or stolen.
Keeping a rental car safe
The same habits apply to a hire car, and it's worth reading what your rental agreement says about keys before you collect it. Keep the key on you, never leave it in the car while you unload or refuel, and don't leave valuables in the boot overnight. At your accommodation, treat the hire car's key like your own: out of sight, away from the front door, and never in a letterbox or under a mat for someone else to collect.
Rentzy's rental terms require you to keep the car locked and the keys secure (clause 7.1). If the car is lost because keys were left in or near it while unattended, the excess limit doesn't apply and you're liable for the full loss (clause 9.3).
Fuentes
- Queensland Police Service (myPolice): Protect your vehicle with simple security measures – Brisbane (11 August 2026) (consultado el 5 de noviembre de 2026)
- Queensland Police Service (myPolice Brisbane Central): Tips to protect your vehicle and belongings (27 April 2026) (consultado el 5 de noviembre de 2026)
- Queensland Police Service: Stolen vehicles (consultado el 5 de noviembre de 2026)
- Moneysmart (Australian Securities and Investments Commission): Buying and running a car (consultado el 5 de noviembre de 2026)
Escrito por el Equipo de Rentzy de Rentzy Car Rentals. Los precios, tarifas y normas de Rentzy que aparecen en esta guía proceden de nuestras condiciones publicadas y se actualizan con ellas; las normas fijadas por otros (carreteras, peajes, permisos, transporte) proceden de las páginas oficiales indicadas arriba, tal como se consultaron en las fechas que se muestran. ¿Hay algo desactualizado? Avísanos.
