Concerningly, the Sunshine Coast saw the largest increase in car theft claims during the year, up by 160%, while the Gold Coast had a 62% increase and the highest number of claims by volume, with a total of 195.

RACQ Chief Executive Insurance Trent Sayers said it was alarming to see a substantial year-on-year increase in coastal areas.

“Even though many of us enjoy our coastal regions for a slower-paced lifestyle, it’s important for Queenslanders to be aware that car theft can happen anywhere,” Mr Sayers said.

“Across the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, residential areas and popular tourist spots have been targeted. “It’s troubling to see such large spikes in the number of claims for these areas, so we are urging Queenslanders to remain vigilant.”

The Club’s latest research also revealed car theft fears had substantially increased, with 54.2% of South East Queensland residents now being very or extremely concerned, compared with 38.1% during the same period last year.

Mr Sayers described the ways Queenslanders could reduce their risk of theft.

“The best way to protect yourself is to always treat your keys like cash, never leave them lying around on a table or in plain sight at the beach,” he said.

"We continue to see car thefts occurring simply because people leave their keys in the car, so never leave your keys unattended in your vehicle or store spare keys inside.

“It’s equally important to keep your keys out of sight when you’re at home and away from entry points, so opportunistic thieves aren’t tempted.”

The highest incidence of car theft occurred on weekdays between 11pm and 4am, RACQ’s data revealed.

“Where possible, park your car overnight in a locked garage or gated driveway and lock your car, even when it’s parked in a secure location,” Mr Sayers said.

“For those who don’t have access to a secure location, park in a well-lit or populated area and don’t leave any valuables in your car."

Mr Sayers also had advice for Queenslanders who had their car stolen.

“We understand the emotional and financial burden car theft can have on our members,” he said.

“If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having your car stolen, make sure you contact your local police immediately and then contact your insurer to check your cover and lodge a claim.”

Topping the list for the highest claims frequency in Queensland for FY24 was Townsville, inner city Brisbane and Brisbane’s south.

RACQ Insurance car theft claims in FY24:

Note: The ranking is calculated by looking at the total number of RACQ car theft claims divided by the number of RACQ car insurance policies in each region.