Carjackers growing net savvy

WELLINGTON - Beware before clicking pictures of your car as it may become the next target of carjackers.

Thieves are using Trade Me and other online shopping networks as catalogue where vehicles are displayed along with number plates, according to New Zealand police.

The carjackers track down owners of desirable vehicles from number plates before making plans to steal them.

The culprits note the number of vehicles they like, spend a few dollars to get publicly available name and address details and steal the cars, The New Zealand Herald reported.

Detective Craig Clare from Christchurch police said high-performance Japanese cars were often targeted - for the whole vehicle or parts. Nissan Skylines and Subarus were particularly popular.

Trade Me has an average of 57,000 vehicles listed each month. Trust and safety manager Chris Budge said Trade Me took significant steps to protect members’ privacy.

But it was powerless to stop thieves getting registration details if members include the number plate in photos.

“There’s absolutely nothing anyone can do,” said Budge.

Owner information is available from any post office for just $2.25 and from other outlets offering a vehicle licensing service, including carjam.co.nz, which charges $9.

However the authorities will restrict access to the details of vehicle owners from November 1, when people seeking information will have to apply to the New Zealand Transport Authority.

“We have been working towards these changes for some time and are really pleased to see they will be coming into effect,” Assistant Privacy Commissioner Katrine Evans said.

Clare said it could be hard to stop determined thieves, but there were ways to minimise the risk.

He also suggested accompanying a potential buyer on a test drive and covering up the licence plate while listing the car on shopping websites.