A car was stolen and two car alarms triggered in Drouin on Saturday night.
The incidents prompted a police warning to Holden, Toyota and Subaru vehicle owners to tighten security as thefts of these three brands soar.
Police said a 2013 grey Holden Commodore sedan was reported stolen from a driveway in Byron Drv.
It is not known how the vehicle, valued at $16,000 and with personalised plates, was stolen between 10.30am on Saturday and 9.50am on Sunday.
The vehicle, along with $1500 worth of tools inside, is yet to be recovered.
Police believe the theft may be linked to two attempted car thefts on the same night.
Car alarms were triggered in Lakeside Crt at 5.55am and Summerhill Blvd at 5.20am.
Police said an object was used to break a window on the driver side of a Lexus Coupe parked in a Lakeside Crt driveway.
In Summerhill Blvd, a door lock was damaged and wiring tampered with on a Holden Calais sedan.
The car had been parked at the front of the property.
Police last week issued a warning that third party electronic devices, which are capable of programming or mimicking keys, are believed to be behind as many as one in five car thefts in Victoria.
Intelligence revealed Holden thefts had increased by 92.9 per cent in the past 12 months, specifically Commodores - sedans, utes and station wagons - manufactured between 2013 and 2017.
In addition, Toyota thefts increased by 76.4 per cent and Subaru thefts by 107.8 per cent. Hilux (2016-2023), Landcruiser (2008-2021), Camry (2014-2017), Prado (2012-2022), Rav4 (2019-2024), 86 (2012-2017) and C-HR (2017-2020) were the Toyota models targeted, with Impreza/WRX (2015-1018), Outback (2015-2018), XV (2014-2018) and Levorg (2016-2017) for Subaru.
Police urged owners of these vehicles to look at a range of preventative measures to help deter thieves, including an on board diagnostic port lock which prevents an offender connecting a re-programming device to a vehicle. These locks are highly affordable and self-installable, police said.
In the 12 months to September 2024, statistics showed 25,773 vehicles were stolen in Victoria - 6408 more than the previous 12 months.
Vehicle Crime Squad detective inspector Julia MacDonald said offenders were using the electronic devices "like a modern-day screwdriver to steal cars."
"Modern day cars are akin to computers on wheels and while this comes with plenty of benefits, it also creates opportunity for offenders," she said. "It was considered impossible to steal a car this way as little as two years ago."
Police reported they were working with impacted manufacturers on the issue.