Tracking devices will be installed in Melbourne cars in a trial aimed at reducing car theft and deterring thieves.
GPS devices will be fitted into at least 1000 cars from September as part of a 12-month trial, Victoria Police said.
"Vehicles can be tracked anywhere across the state, the nation and the globe if required," Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill told 3AW on Friday.
The trackers would be installed in cars at higher risk of theft in "high-risk" suburbs, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, which is involved in the trial, said.
"If the car is moved outside of a set geographic fence that the owner can set via their smart phone, the owner will get a text message onto their phone to say the car has moved," executive director Ray Carroll said.
"If they then obviously assume that it's been stolen, they can notify Victoria Police.
"The communications centre will have access via a registration number to basically log into that tracking system online and take over the real-time tracking of the vehicle."
The devices are about half the size of a match box and can be installed virtually anywhere in a car.
"You could put one in the boot connected to a tail light lead. You could put it under the bonnet attached to the battery," Mr Carroll said.
"The idea is that nobody will actually know where that is and how to disable it."
Police eventually want to have the devices fitted in all Victorian cars.
