Locking cars key to beating thieves
Nelson police are urging people to lock their cars and be more careful with valuables, after an increase in thefts.
Senior Sergeant Hamish Chapman said there had been an increase over the past few months of ‘‘opportunistic’’ thefts from cars.
‘‘We’ve noticed lots of cars parked in driveways, on the street or in carparks with wallets in plain view,’’ he said.
Chapman said the main piece of prevention advice was to always lock an unattended vehicle.
He said it was easy for people to become distracted and forget to lock or even fully close things like cars or garages.
‘‘I worked a night shift over the two nights of Bay Dreams. I was out patrolling when I saw something and thought, ‘That’s odd’ – there was a tradesman’s van parked there with the side door wide open.
‘‘He came out and locked it. Nothing was taken, but it just shows how easy it is.’’
Chapman said making sure to lock doors would prevent most of the petty theft that had been going on, as many opportunist thieves would simply try the door handles of cars they passed.
Removing all valuables from cars, or at least keeping them in places where they were not easily visible, would also deter thieves.
‘‘If you don’t need your laptop on Saturday morning while you’re at the market, just take it out of the car.’’
It was best to remove valuables even from cars parked at home, he said, as opportunistic thieves had been known to walk up driveways.
Chapman said anyone particularly concerned about their car being targeted could also invest in motionactivated security lights aimed at where they regularly parked; trimming shrubbery near parking spots; and getting to know neighbours, or joining local Neighbourhood Watch groups.
‘‘We’ve noticed lots of cars . . . with wallets in plain view.’’
Senior Sergeant Hamish Chapman