One of Australia's highest-ranking cops is left red-faced after admitting the police car stolen from outside his Sydney home was left UNLOCKED
- Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy left the car on his Sutherland Shire property
- The unlocked four-wheel drive had police documents and uniforms inside
- Commissioner Loy didn't breach the law as the car was on his private property
- Police whistleblowers are calling for more transparency about the theft
One of Australia's most senior police officers has been given a slap on the wrist after admitting he didn't lock his undercover cop car before it was stolen from outside his Sydney home.
New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner Jeff Loy's unlocked four-wheel drive, which had police documents and uniforms inside, was stolen from his Sutherland Shire property in late April.
A Parliament report filed last week said 'articles of police uniform and documents were in the vehicle,' but Mr Loy had not left any guns inside.
The items were later found following a police investigation.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller was questioned by Shooters' Fishers and Farmers leader Robert Borsak about how the car's security system could have been breached, the ABC reported.
Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy's unlocked four-wheel drive, which had police documents and uniforms inside, was stolen from his Sutherland Shire property
A police spokesperson said Deputy Commissioner Loy (pictured) wasn't in breach of any road rules because the car was parked on his private property
It's illegal in NSW to leave a parked car unlocked on a public road, with fines reaching $2,200.
But a police spokesperson said Deputy Commissioner Loy wasn't in breach of any road rules because the car was parked on his private property.
The spokesperson said Mr Fuller had alerted his deputy to the security breach.
'Deputy Commissioner Loy has been officially spoken to by Commissioner Fuller in relation to the matter and obviously understands his obligations in respect to the security of his police vehicle,' the spokesperson said.
Police whistleblower and transparency campaigner Richard McDonald claimed NSW Police should have been more forthcoming about the theft.
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'Certainly these days it's very hard to steal a motor vehicle unless the thief has the keys to that vehicle,' he said.
'If a rank-and-file police officer left a police vehicle unlocked and that car was stolen, I would certainly expect that that police officer would be subject to the full wrath of the professional standards command.'
Greens MP David Shoebridge said it's concerning that sensitive documents from the car could have fallen into the wrong hands.
NSW Police are continuing to investigate the car theft.
It's believed several other cars on Mr Loy's street were targeted on the same night.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller (pictured) was probed by Shooters' Fishers and Farmers leader Robert Borsak about how the car's security system could have been breached
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