'Don’t put thieves in the driving seat' - BTP

Station car park

British Transport Police is warning motorists not to put thieves in the driving seat this Christmas.

Thieves will often target vehicles left at stations because they believe the owners may be away for some time. And at Christmas cars become an even more attractive proposition as thieves look to take advantage of people who leave valuables behind when they travel on the train.

Across the North West BTP is working with train operating companies and Network Rail to make car parks as safe as possible and to deter thieves.

Officers will carry out regular patrols of larger car parks and will pay visits to smaller and more remote stations as a part of any Christmas operations.

But there are steps motorists can take too to make their vehicles less attractive to thieves. 

• Always park in well lit areas – preferably those which are obviously covered by CCTV
• Remove all valuables from any car you will be leaving unattended – if the valuables cannot be removed, at least make sure they are out of sight
• Remove any signs – such as suction marks – which show you have been using satellite navigation systems or MP3 players 
• Make sure any alarms or vehicle locks are used and are in good working order 

Gill Smyth, BTP’s crime reduction advisor, said: “There is very little that can be done to stop a determined thief, but by following the steps outlined motorists can deter the vast majority of opportunist thieves who will generally be looking for an easy target and a way to make a quick buck.

“BTP works around the clock to make life more and more difficult for criminals and, whilst car crime is relatively low on railway premises, it is still an issue – particularly at Christmas.

“We don’t want anyone’s Christmas spoiled as a result of valuables or presents being stolen from cars so I am calling on all motorists to heed the advice and help give thieves a rough ride this winter.”