Car break-ins spur alert

A SPIKE in the theft of property from vehicles has prompted Tasmania Police to issue a warning to car owners — lock it or lose it.

Police said there had been a spate of car burglaries in recent months with 86 motor vehicles targeted in the state’s South in the past month alone.

Twenty-three of those 86 vehicles were unlocked.

In the past year, 250 of the 755 cars from which property was stolen were left unsecured.

“Generally, offenders are looking for a quick grab. If they see something visible and the vehicle is unlocked, it makes it very attractive,” Detective Senior Sergeant Jim Semmens from Hobart CIB said.

Property stolen includes mobile phones, GPSs, iPads and iPods, cash, tools, wallets, bags and camera equipment.

“We are working really hard to arrest offenders. Four offenders have been arrested in the last four days and they face charges relating to seven car burglaries,” Sgt Semmens said.

“While some burglaries have involved cars being damaged to gain entry, about a third of the cars involved were not locked.

“We are asking the public to do their bit to help reduce the number of incidents.”

Police have also released video footage taken last week in a Hobart suburban driveway where a man was caught shin- ing a torch into a car looking for goods but left empty handed because the car was locked.

Police said it was timely to remind car owners to lock up.

Tasmania Police said CCTV footage was very helpful in identifying offenders.

If anyone sees people acting suspiciously around motor vehicles, particularly during the night, they should contact Tasmania Police at the time on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au