Police Put The Brakes On Thieves At North Worcs Services
Lorry driver Rick Roth with, left, CSO Mark Hyder and PC Simon AlbuttPolice are putting the brakes on thieves with a new campaign at a North Worcestershire service station.
Signs in different languages are being displayed at Hopwood Park services on the M42 to warn drivers about thefts from lorries.
Signs have been put up on the lorry park in Czech, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish, as well as English, and officers are handing out advice leaflets to drivers.
Police patrols in both marked and unmarked vehicles have been increased, and special "sting" vehicles kitted out with special equipment to capture the images of thieves breaking into them are being used.
PC Simon Albutt of the Wythall Local Policing Team said: "Truck and freight crime is estimated to cost the UK economy up to £250 million a year, and is a problem not just at Hopwood but across the West Midlands region.
"Curtain-sided lorries are particularly vulnerable, and with reports of offenders becoming bolder and more aggressive when carrying out thefts, we want to raise awareness."
Community Support Officer Mark Hyder added: "Hopwood Park services is used by lorry drivers from across the continent, which is why we have got signs translated into the most common European languages.
"The signs have been obtained from TruckPol, the national police intelligence unit for road freight crime. TruckPol has crime prevention advice on its website, http://www.truckpol.com/, and drivers can also download copies of the Home Office leaflet Steer Clear of Truck Crime."
Issued: Monday, 05 December 2011.