Increase in thefts from cars in Amesbury (From Salisbury Journal)
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Increase in thefts from cars in Amesbury
4:00pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in Headlines By Corey Ross
AMESBURY Police are stepping up measures to prevent thefts from cars, after recent weeks have seen an average of one theft per day.
Officers have noticed an increase in handbags and other valuables being stolen from unattended cars in the town and the surrounding area, particularly at beauty spots where walkers have left belongings in their vehicles.
Countywide, the average number of thefts from cars is ten per day.
Police have now decided to target not just offenders but people who leave valuables in their cars, reminding them of the risks.
Plain-clothed officers are patrolling beauty spot areas, and if they find vehicles that have valuables on display they will educate the owners.
Insp Christian Lange said: “We are trying everything to ensure that people don’t leave valuables in their cars and are finding it increasingly frustrating that we continue to experience such preventable thefts. My officers will offer constructive advice to people who choose to ignore the previous warnings.”
They are also encouraging people to remove empty bags from their cars as offenders are opportunistic and will smash the window in case the bag contains something valuable.
They also advise people to try to park near other vehicles, lock all doors, windows and sunroofs, not leave anything on view and not try to hide sat-navs or other valuables in the glove compartment as it is the first place thieves will look.
