| FREE VEHICLE
CRIME PREVENTION KITS FOR DACORUM MOTORISTS
MOTORISTS in Dacorum can pick up a free crime prevention
pack to help prevent them becoming a victim of theft.
We have seen a sudden increase in car crime over
the past three or four months in Dacorum, said Crime
Prevention Officer David Mahon. And a large percentage
of these incidents relate to the theft of satellite
navigation systems. We are handing them out at retailers
who sell sat nav's in the run up to Christmas this
week.
The 2,000 packs, which have been funded by the Dacorum
Community Safety Partnership, will be distributed
to retailers including Halfords, Comet, Staples and
Argos.
He said: If they can't see it, they can't steal it;
if you can see it, move it! It is vitally important
to remove all property including satellite navigation
cradles and suction pads; otherwise you run the risk
of someone breaking in to your car.
We hope to see a noticeable drop in the number of
thefts from vehicles as a result, added David.
Did you know?
Satellite navigation equipment accounts for 10 per
cent of all car crime.
Number plates
Did you know?
Latest figures show one in ten car crimes involve
the theft of number plates.
Although we have had a number of reports of stolen
number plates over the past few months, we have little
information about why they are being stolen and what
they are being used for, said Inspector Phil Moss
from the Western Area Tactical Team.
I would appeal to members of the public to tell us
what is attracting thieves to number plates. We can
then build up a more accurate picture of who is responsible
and help relieve motorists from the hassle of having
to replace their stolen number plates.
Hills number plates produce the new approved DVLA
security standard number plate which breaks in to
pieces if someone tries to remove it. Kwikfit now
supply and fit this type of plate.
Anyone with any information about the thefts are asked
to contact police on the non-emergency number 0845
33 00 222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Arrested
Four teenagers from Hemel Hempstead have been arrested
for vehicle crime offences this week.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with attempted
theft from a motor vehicle, a 16-year-old boy has
been bailed until November 9 for attempted theft of
a motor vehicle and a third boy aged 17 has been
reprimanded for the same offence in Peterlee Court
in Hemel on November 4. A Red Ford Orion had been
damaged.
A 16-year-old boy, also from Hemel, was arrested on
suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle in Lower High
Street in Berkhamsted on November 4, 2007. He has
been bailed until November 19.
Crime Prevention
Hertfordshire Constabulary offers the following vehicle
crime prevention advice:
Remove Satellite Navigation systems and all evidence
that such a system is used, ie - the cradle - before
leaving the vehicle.
You are twice as likely to have something taken
from your car than have your car stolen. Take a thief's
temptation away.
Remove your stereo or CD player, mark it with your
registration number or use your postcode followed
by your house number.
Any other valuables you take into your car regularly
should be marked in the same way.
Don't leave valuables like laptop computers, handbags
or credit cards on display. Take them with you or
put them out of sight in the boot at the start of
your journey.
A large number of break-ins involve the theft of
a mobile phone. Mark your phone and battery with your
postcode and keep a note of its serial number in a
safe place.
Even leaving an empty bag on display can be a temptation
a thief may think it contains something valuable.
So keep bags out of sight.
For further crime prevention advice, please contact
David on 01442 271045.
If anyone has any information about people involved
in stealing from cars or buying the goods stolen from
them they can contact police on 0845 33 00 222 or
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
November 2007
|
