Police crackdown on modified vehicles over safety concerns

POLICE in Southland have clamped down on modified vehicles and are also warning people to lock vehicles.

In a statement yesterday, police said they recently ran a successful road policing operation in the Invercargill area.

The operation focused on modified vehicles that were unfit and unsafe with the aim to stop antisocial drivers from causing harm on the road.

Over the course of the operation 22 vehicles were impounded following failed inspections, nine were pinkstickered — unsafe and taken off the road; four were greenstickered — vehicles with compliance issues; and eight motorists were found to be driving with excess breath alcohol.

Vehicle modifications pose a huge risk to the safety of the driver and their passengers and every other motorist these vehicles share the road with.

Southland road policing manager Senior Sergeant Brent Kingsland said the work saved lives and showed police were committed to keeping roads safe.

‘‘We know that driving under the influence and operating an unsafe vehicle can have fatal consequences,’’ he said.

‘‘At the end of the day, we want everyone to get home safely and operations like these contribute to achieving that aim.’’

Hundreds of vehicles were stopped over the course of last weekend.

‘‘Overall, people here in Southland were driving safely, but we are glad to have prevented the handful of motorists who were not, from causing any harm.’’

Police were also reminding people in Invercargill to lock their cars even when parked in driveways after a number of vehicle breakins.

‘‘Police have been surprised by people who do not lock their vehicles at night, leaving handbags, wallets and other valuable items in vehicles,’’ Detective Sergeant Grant Johnstone said.

‘‘We would all like to see the best in people and think we can trust those around us, however vehicle theft is an opportunistic crime.’’

Some suburbs are being targeted by thieves more than others, and in some cases there has been criminal damage.

‘‘Tyres have been slashed and in one case a vehicle set alight outside a Fulton St home. At least four vehicles have been stolen where the keys have been left inside unlocked vehicles.’’

Police believe the same thieves are targeting unlocked vehicles in residential driveways and parked on streets.

Police asked people to be extra vigilant around their vehicles ensuring vehicles were locked and secured with keys not left in vehicles along with valuable personal items in plain view.

Vehicle crime could have a devastating impact and it was a simple task to lock cars when unattended, police said.