Help drive car thieves out of town

Sergeant Valerie Lamb

Police in Heywood are urging residents to keep their vehicles more secure to help them reduce car crime in the area.

Amazingly, criminals get into a quarter of vehicles because windows and doors have been left unlocked. Motorists who don't lock up their vehicle are making themselves easy prey to thieves. The latest figures show that theft from vehicles has increased by 19 incidents from 134 last year to 153 in 2009. Police in Heywood are now urging the public to do more to keep their vehicles safe and secure.

Leaving valuables on view in a car is also an open invitation for thieves to help themselves to a wide range of possessions. Particularly vulnerable are satellite navigation systems, CD and radio systems and mobile phones.

Intelligence has shown that items such as tools, cash, clothing and CDs left on view are also regularly targeted.

Further carelessness such as leaving cars in secluded streets, in unlit areas or car parks that are un-staffed and without CCTV as well as leaving the car on the street rather than in a garage also helps in making life easier for local car thieves.

Sergeant Valerie Lamb from Heywood Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “We are working hard to bring car crime down in Heywood and with the help of our officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) we have been speaking to motorists and victims of vehicle crime to offer them appropriate crime reduction advice.

“The public can make life hard for these criminals and this is achieved by motorists being a little bit more careful. By following the simple advice given here people can keep themselves and their vehicles safe and help us to drive car thieves out of Heywood.”