Car Keys Stolen in a Perth Break In? What to Do

Report it, then get the stolen key erased from your car. If thieves took your car keys in a break in, your car is at risk for as long as that key still works. For many vehicles, a locksmith can program new keys and erase the stolen ones from the car's system, so they can no longer be used to start it.

Here is the WA burglary and vehicle theft context, what to do in what order, and how to keep your keys safer at home.

Burglary and vehicle theft in WA

For the 2025/26 financial year, from July 2025 to June 2026, WA Police recorded the following offences. These general burglary and vehicle theft totals do not measure how often car keys were stolen:

Figure 1: Burglary and vehicle theft in WA, 2025/26

In the Armadale police district alone, WA Police recorded 750 dwelling burglaries and 415 motor vehicle thefts in the same year.

Burglary and car theft are closely linked, and WA research shows it. In a 2014 joint study of more than 2,000 reported thefts, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) and WA Police found that car keys were the only property stolen in up to one in four reported burglaries in which a vehicle was taken.

In its 2021 submission, NMVTRC reported that mandatory immobilisers had made modern cars almost impossible to steal without access to the keys, and described burglary to obtain keys as the most common mode of theft. It also reported that its research suggested 95 per cent of these cases involved no confrontation with the homeowner, with keys taken from obvious places such as a hook or bowl near the door. These are historical findings, not current Perth theft-method statistics.

What to do if your car keys are stolen

Work through these steps as soon as you realise the keys are gone:

Check the car is still there. If it has been taken, report it to WA Police straight away.

Report the burglary to WA Police. List the car keys specifically, including which vehicle they belong to.

Make the car harder to take. If you have a spare key, consider moving the car into a locked garage until the stolen key has been dealt with.

Call your insurer. Some car policies include cover for lost or stolen keys. RAC's comprehensive car insurance, for example, says its cover includes the cost of locks, barrels, fobs and keypads.

Ask whether the stolen keys can be erased and replacement keys programmed for your vehicle. Confirm that the missing keys have actually been removed from the starting system; adding a new key alone is not enough.

Deal with your house locks. If house keys were taken as well, changing those locks is a separate job for a residential locksmith.

How erasing stolen car keys works

When new keys are programmed to your car, the old, lost or stolen keys can in many cases be erased from the vehicle's system so they can no longer be used to start it. That is how our lost car keys service describes it. It is not guaranteed for every vehicle, so ask about your specific make and model when you book.

Where supported, erasing a stolen key's code from the immobiliser stops that key being authorised to start the engine. Adding a spare through car key programming does not automatically erase missing keys. Electronic deletion also does not change the physical locks: a matching mechanical blade may still unlock a door. Ask whether the locks need rekeying or replacing and whether remote-entry access must be removed separately.

Figure 2: What erasing a stolen key does and does not do

Electronic starting authorisation and physical door locks are separate systems.

Mention every key you still have

If you still have a spare key, mention it when you book. Ask whether you need to have every remaining key with you on the day, so the keys you still have keep working after the stolen ones are erased.

What if it is a keyless car?

Keyless entry and push button start cars use smart keys, and the same question applies. Ask whether the stolen smart key can be removed from the car's system when new ones are programmed. Our keyless entry guide covers how these systems work and some simple ways to store smart keys more safely.

How to keep your car keys safer at home

NMVTRC's Pop, Lock, Stop message is a good habit to build: pop keys out of sight, lock all doors and windows, and stop sneak theft.

Figure 3: Key storage habits at home

Frequently Asked Questions

Can stolen car keys be deactivated?

In many cases, yes. Depending on the vehicle, a locksmith can erase stolen keys from the immobiliser so they no longer start the engine. Adding a replacement key does not automatically erase the stolen one, and a matching mechanical blade may still unlock a door.

Should I report stolen car keys to police if the car was not taken?

Yes. Report the burglary to WA Police and list the keys, so the theft is on record even if the car has not been touched.

Does car insurance cover stolen keys in WA?

Some policies do. RAC's comprehensive car insurance, for example, says it covers replacing lost or stolen keys, including the cost of locks, barrels, fobs and keypads. Check your own policy's PDS.

What did NMVTRC report about theft methods in 2021?

In its 2021 submission, NMVTRC described burglary to obtain the keys of secure vehicles as the most common mode of theft. This is a historical finding and does not establish how most modern cars are stolen in Perth today.

Act quickly, then lock it down

A stolen car key is a live risk until your car stops recognising it. Report the break in, call your insurer and have new keys programmed so the stolen ones can be erased where your vehicle allows it. Then tighten up where keys are kept at home, because that is where many car thefts start.