Police cadets have been patrolling Lee-on-the-Solent with Gosport’s Neighbourhood Policing Team in a bid to prevent vehicle related crime.
On Thursday, January 5th, PCSO’s Brad Adams and Andy Leeks were joined by the local Police Cadets to deliver letters to residents to remind them to lock their vehicles. They also checked cars to ensure they were secure and no valuables were left on display. The cadets found 15 insecure vehicles in various roads in Lee-on-the-Solent during the hour that they went on patrol. The registered owners of the vehicles were then identified and given appropriate crime prevention advice. The owners were very grateful for the actions of the cadets and the advice they received.
Police Sergeant Tracy Scrase said; "These checks were undertaken following a number of reports of thefts from vehicles in the area during November and December. We’re all busy people, and it can be easy to think you’ve locked your car when you haven’t. Please take time to double check, if you don’t an opportunistic thief could easily take anything from you vehicle.
"Some people we’ve spoken to seem to think the cost of repairing a vehicle if it is broken into exceeds the cost of the items taken if it is left unlocked. In many cases if a vehicle is locked it will not be targeted by an opportunistic thief who will try the door of another car if you haven’t left any valuables on display. If you have left your car unlocked deliberately in the past I’d urge you not to because it perpetuates the problem.
"Last night (Sunday, January 8th) there were three thefts and four attempted thefts from vehicles on Stone Lane, Linden Grove, and Mayfield Road. It’s clear that thefts from vehicles are still a problem in Gosport and we are working hard to address this with targeted patrols, but the message is simple: lock it or lose it".
We’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of the following crime prevention advice:
Thefts from vehicles
- Don’t leave anything in your car – if it’s not there, then it can’t be stolen.
- Choose a stereo that can be removed and make sure you take it with you! You should also mark it with your registration number or postcode, in case it’s stolen.
- Thieves aren’t picky, so don’t leave even low-value items in your car. Often thieves will smash and grab first and look later to see if what they’ve stolen is valuable.
- Don’t hide it – if you hide items under the seat or in the glove box, chances are someone will have watched you. If you cannot avoid leaving something in your car, put it in your boot before you begin your journey.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car even for a minute – it only takes a thief a few seconds to smash a window and get what they want, so don’t take the chance.
- Your car isn’t safe to be left unlocked on your driveway – nearly half of all incidents where items are stolen from cars happen when they are parked overnight, close to the owner’s home.
- Don’t leave your house keys or anything with your address on it in your vehicle – someone could steal your keys and then let themselves into your home.
Sat Navs
- If it’s portable, take the sat nav with you together with support cradle and suction pads.
- Wipe away any marks left by the suction pads as thieves will look out for these.
- Don’t leave your equipment in the glove compartment – thieves usually check here first.
Securing Cars
- Always secure your car.
- Always lock your car and wind your windows up, even if you are just posting a letter or going into a petrol station.
- If you are stationary in traffic, keep your doors locked and don’t wind your windows too far down – someone could reach in and try to grab something off your passenger seat.
- Use a steering wheel lock every time you leave your car – it makes life more difficult for the thief and therefore your car a less tempting target.
- Get a car alarm – they not only deter a thief from stealing the car but also from stealing items from inside it. Have it fitted by a professional.
- Immobilisers stop the engine from starting if the car is being stolen and they are the best way to stop thieves. Having an immobiliser is a good idea if you have an expensive car, and it might help to reduce your insurance premiums.
Beauty Spot vehicle advice
- Try to park in sign-posted parking areas.
- Be cautious about parking your car in isolation. Thieves can be put off when other people are around.
- Do not leave anything in your vehicle. A jacket or coat left behind may be of very little value to you, but a thief may think it has been used to hide a laptop or handbag and will break into your vehicle to find out.
- Before you leave home, think about what you need and leave any unnecessary items of value at home.
- Whilst enjoying the sights make sure you keep your bag and possessions with you.
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