Owners Urged To Improve Security After Vehicle Crime In Wythall

Police are urging vehicle owners to step up security after four vehicles were broken into in Wythall, North Worcestershire.

A resident of Three Oaks Road contacted police at around 1.40am today, Monday 21 November, after seeing youths trying the handles of vehicles parked on drives.

It was discovered that a car in Three Oaks Road, two cars in Station Road, and a further car in Houndsfield Grove had all been broken into.

A Volkswagen Passat was broken into in Three Oaks Road, and binoculars worth £50 and a torch worth £40 stolen, along with a pair of sunglasses and a pair of reading glasses.

The two vehicles broken into in Station Road were a BMW, where a sat nav worth £90 had been stolen, and a Volkswagen Golf, where a sat nav worth £80 had been stolen.

A disabled parking permit was stolen from a Suzuki Wagon in Houndsfield Grove.

All of the thefts were reported this morning, Monday 21 November.

Crime Prevention Advisor for North Worcestershire, Mr Peter Aston, said: "We believe at least one of these vehicles had been left unlocked.

"Vehicle crime is largely opportunistic and often happens as a result of a vehicle being left vulnerable or insecure, or when valuables such as sat navs have been left on display. It is common sense to always remove any valuables, and not to just hide them within the vehicle as thieves always know where to look."

As well as ensuring vehicles are locked, that the alarm is set if there is one, and removing valuables, owners are reminded to remove the suction mounted fittings of sat nav cradles and erase any tell-tale marks.

It is also recommended that sat navs and other valuables are security marked using forensic property marking kits or UV pens, and registered on the Immobilise national property database - www.immobilise.com

Stop - All Valuables Have Been Removed postcards which can be displayed in vehicles are available to download from West Mercia Police's website, http://www.westmercia.police.uk

Mr Aston added: "Residents are advised to park their vehicles in a secure garage overnight, but where this is not possible, a security light which comes on when it detects movement may act as a deterrent."

Witnesses or anyone with information about any of the above incidents should call PC Garry Jordan at West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000 quoting incident 18-N-211111 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Issued: Monday, 21 November 2011