Motorists warned to keep cars locked

There has been a recent rise in the number of thefts from motor vehicles involving cars or vans which owners believed they had left secure – only to discover they have left them unlocked.

In several incidents nothing has been stolen from within the vehicles because no items of value were inside, and it appears as if criminals were chancing their luck and trying door handles rather than targeting vehicles with valuables on display.

However, in some incidents valuables including CD players, stereos and sat-navs have been taken, and owners have been left with the inconvenience and expense of making insurance claims.

As officers have carried investigated the offences, it has been established that many motorists may have not fully secured all doors or windows.

Other motorists may also have mistakenly assumed that gadgets such as automatic locking devices have secured their vehicle as they walk away. However, many of these devices only work in certain circumstances.

Det Chief Insp Mick Oddy said: “We are putting a lot of officers’ time and effort into stopping all kinds of vehicle crime, which includes plain clothes and uniformed patrols along with visiting known criminals to establish if they are responsible.

“But prevention is better than cure, and in a lot of circumstances it has become clear that many of the vehicles affected were not as secure as first thought. I would encourage motorists leaving their vehicles to lock them with the key and double-check their doors simply by trying the handles.

“Taking that split-second can make all the difference when it comes to avoiding becoming a victim of crime. In the meantime I would ask anyone who witnesses suspicious activity around vehicles to contact the police immediately.”