Thefts from cars are on increase
Stirling Area Commander, Chief Inspector Lynn Ratcliff, on how a little care can deter thieves and save you more than £200 in car repair bills.
Over recent weeks, there has been a slight but noticeable increase across Stirlingshire in thefts from cars.
It is common to see seasonal peaks in this type of crime, typically at Christmas when vehicles are stacked with shopping and presents and again over the summer months.
At this time of year, people and families are often on the move, either on holiday or day trips and often this results in items such as toys, electronic devices such as tablets and DVD players and other luggage being left on display.
Camping and other outdoor equipment is often left within vehicles and again, proves tempting to any opportunist thieves as does money, wallets and satnavs.
Any loss of property from your vehicle is extremely annoying and inconvenient but can also prove costly from the perspective of repair as the most common means of gaining access to the car is by smashing a window. The average cost for replacing a side window is £210.
Stirling area officers have been attending at reports of these crimes and examining the cars to establish if there is any forensic evidence available, carrying out doorto-door enquiries and, where it is available, reviewing any CCTV evidence in an effort to trace the persons responsible.
However. the key to stopping this type of crime though and making sure that your vehicle is not targeted is minimising the availability of property worth stealing. A thief will not waste time or take the risk of being caught by breaking into an apparently empty car. So, a few simple steps to consider:
If you have coins in your car for meters or other parking, keep them in a closed ashtray or another other out-of-sight compartment.
Keep items such as handbags, holdalls, expensive items of clothing and shopping locked away in the boot.
Try to store suitcases or large bags e within the boot.
If you have a portable satnav, take it with you when you leave your car or lock it away out of sight.
Leave registration documents and test certificates at home.
By removing temptation, you can significantly reduce the risk of your vehicle being targeted, prevent the annoyance and inconvenience of your property being taken and your car being damaged – all of which can make for a very expensive day out.