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Car crime is top priority say police

13/05/08

Police have announced that reducing the amount of car crime is a top priority and they are developing solutions to stamp out what they consider to be one of the biggest problems in the area.

The Barking and Dagenham Recorder reports that 60 per cent of cars stolen in the borough are never found while the number of vehicle thefts reported rose by eight per cent between March 2007 and March this year, which may affect car insurance customers.

Police say that many vehicles are now towed or lifted away to be stolen as opposed to being hot-wired and many are never found as they are taken overseas.

Superintendent Dave Reed told the newspaper: "It's a big issue. We're doing a lot of work to pin down the big problems like motor vehicle crime hotspots, themes and what people are taking and why."

He added that vehicle crime is not a "victimless crime" and that while some people do not think it is important the police are "determined to drive this down".

Meanwhile police in Northamptonshire have warned motorists about vehicle crime and advised them to be vigilant after a van was stolen while the owner was fishing.

The Northants Evening Telegraph reports that police are warning drivers that thefts can increase at this time of year as the weather improves.

A police spokesman told the newspaper: "Theft from cars at country parks and other beauty spots traditionally increases at this time of year."

He added that the police force was "keen to warn people" that they should not leave anything in their cars when they park.

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