Motorists - Remove your valuables
... before someone else does
3 September 2008
An anti car crime campaign has been launched
by the Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council’s Community Warden
Team, Cheshire Police and the Safer Communities Partnership to put
the brakes on car thieves. This follows the withdrawal of support
for the existing scheme from the Home Office.
All motorists are being urged not to tempt
thieves by leaving valuables on display and to be extra vigilant
and remove valuables and other personal possessions from their
vehicles.
Whilst out patrolling the borough the
Community Wardens will be on the lookout for valuables left
unattended in vehicles. The registration details will
be taken of any vehicle found with items left unattended.
This information will then be passed onto the Police, who will
advise the Wardens of the vehicle owner’s address. The Wardens will
then issue an advisory letter and Vehicle Crime Prevention Leaflet
to the registered keeper.
Belongings such as mobile phones, handbags,
lap top computers, CD players and satellite navigation kits are on
thieves’ ‘most wanted’ list, with shopping bags also becoming a
firm favourite. Motorists are failing to remove devices from
windscreens and dashboards - which make easy pickings for
opportunist thieves.
Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities,
Councillor Rachel Bailey said: ‘We are encouraging all car owners
to remove any valuables on display in their vehicle, as this is
proven to drastically reduce the likelihood of a theft being
committed. Just a few minutes spent placing personal items in
the boot or removing them from your vehicle may prevent a ruined
day out. I know only too well how upsetting and distressing it is
to discover your car has been broken into and the inconvenience it
causes’.
Mark Cotton, Crime Reduction Advisor for
Cheshire Police agreed that lack of care by drivers was a problem.
“The Community Wardens, Parking Attendants, Home Watch and the CCTV
centre all work together with the police to combat vehicle crime,
and if the Wardens and attendants see drivers being careless about
security they will talk to the driver reducing car crime and send
them an educational letter. The ultimate aim of this initiative is
to reduce car crime and the effect on vehicle owners”.
Another aspect of vehicle crime in which the
Wardens are involved, in partnership with the DVLA, is the
reporting of unlicensed vehicles. On average 25 vehicles a month,
which have been illegally driving around on the borough’s streets
without excise licenses, have been reported.
Council Contact - Jan Griffiths
Telephone - 01270 537819
Email - jan.griffiths@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
For Media Enquiries contact - Ian Richardson
Telephone - 01270 537018
Email - ian.richardson@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
or www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk