MELBOURNE Airport’s long-term carpark has come under fire after a Geelong doctor fell victim to a serial crook who stole his car and ransacked his home while he was overseas.

New figures from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council show 104 cars were snatched from Melbourne Airport last year.

Professional car thieves have resorted to extreme measures to steal luxury models, crashing through carpark barriers.

Dr Duncan Walker, 37, is among the latest unlucky travellers: he put his $100,000 high-performance Holden in the airport’s long-term carpark while he worked in India for three weeks last month.

When he returned, all that was left was a pile of shattered glass. Eight days earlier, his car had been stolen by a brazen crook captured on CCTV ramming his way through the barriers in broad daylight.

Dr Walker then returned to a ransacked home after the thief discovered his address from papers in the car and took about $20,000 worth of guitars and jewellery.

He also left Dr Walker with three speeding fines to pay.

“I was bloody exhausted and really angry,” Dr Walker said. “I suppose it’s a pretty safe bet that if you are stealing a car from a long-term carpark, nobody is going to be home.”

Police have charged a 23-year-old Mill Park man with car theft and burglary. He is expected to appear in the Magistrates’ Court on January 28 to face more than 60 counts relating to similar offences committed across Melbourne.

NMVTRC executive director Ray Carroll warned that the airport was like a candy shop for car thieves.

Dr Walker said he was now seeking a refund of his $182 airport parking fee. Airport spokesman Anna Gillett said he would be entitled to this.

sophie.aubrey@news.com.au