With the school summer holiday fast approaching and families preparing for six weeks of holidays, outings and (hopefully) sunshine, Bedfordshire Police are stepping up the fight against car crime by deploying trap cars across the county.
With so many people planning to enjoy the attractions that Bedfordshire has to offer, the last thing that anybody would want is their vehicle being broken in to and their possessions stolen. To help combat the problem, Bedfordshire Police are urging motorists to take some simple measures to reduce the chance of their cars being broken in to.
Opportunist thieves often target property which has been left inside the car and in full view with items such as satellite navigation systems, mobile phones, wallets and handbags being particularly attractive to offenders. During the summer months, thieves tend to focus their attention on beauty spots, local attractions or places where a lot of vehicles may be gathered and left for long periods of time.
To help deter thieves, specially adapted trap cars – which are fitted with the latest technology which allows surveillance equipment to automatically start recording when a break-in occurs - will be positioned throughout the area.
Detective Inspector Sandra Evans of Bedfordshire Police said: “Over half the incidents of car crime are ‘opportunistic’ with thieves spotting something that could earn them easy money. We won’t give too much away about exactly where the cars will be places but it is fair to say that using a trap car will help us catch and prosecute offenders at a time of year when these sort of offences increase.
“I’d also like to advise people to take some extra precautions when out and about in the county. Vehicles with property on display are more likely to be broken into because thieves will risk setting off an alarm if there is an obvious pay-off. Even an empty carrier bag or a coat on the back seat is attractive to a thief as it may contain items of value.
“By the time the thief has realised there is nothing of value, your vehicle has already sustained damage which may be expensive, inconvenient and time consuming to repair.”
Bedfordshire Police has increased patrols in areas of high vehicle crime across the county, and has implemented many successful initiatives in the areas of prevention, intelligence and enforcement. However, in order to assist us in reducing the risk of vehicle crime, we ask that you take these simple steps:
- Close the windows and sunroof, and lock the doors and boot.
- Only take what you need on your journey – whenever possible, leave personal and valuable items at home.
- If you have an alarm – use it
- If you must take valuable items with you, keep them out of view and take them with you when you leave the vehicle – even if you think you will only be a minute.
- It’s better to store items in the boot at your point of departure, not the point of arrival – you don’t know who may be watching.
- Laptops and satellite navigation systems are currently being targeted – keep them out of sight.
- Remember to remove your stereo fascia – this is the best way to make your stereo unattractive to thieves.
- Even small items like loose change and a packet of cigarettes are incentives to the opportunist thief.
- Items with your personal details – such as letters, bank statements, vehicle documents, etc – also leave you at risk of identity fraud.
- If you have a remote locking system, always double check the car is secure by trying the door handle.
- Make sure your phone and other valuables are security marked and registered on http://www.immobilise.com/.
Bedfordshire Police and Crime Reduction Officers continue to actively target the problem at the moment but anything that can be done to prevent the problem in the first place is invaluable. For more information on crime reduction please contact the team via email on crimereduction@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk.
If you have information relating to thefts from motor vehicle, contact Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on the non emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
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