We are receiving increased reports of vehicle crime. These reports include both theft of motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles, here's some advice to help protect your vehicle:

Lock your vehicle

Locking your vehicle, even when fuelling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted by an opportunist thief. Even if you have locked your vehicle, check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open.

 Keep the keys safe

Vehicles today are by and large more difficult to steal than ever, unless the thief can access your keys or fob. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front door to deter the opportunist thief 

Keyless entry 

Cars with keyless entry unlock automatically when the key comes within a short distance of the car. This can be from inside a pocket or bag

Keyless car theft or 'relay theft' is when a device is used to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.

Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home. This means that even if your car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal your car.

How to protect your keyless entry car

When at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday box

 Fit good in-car security 

Additional physical security can help to prevent your vehicle being driven away even if a thief gains entry. There are a range of security rated products that can help, such as steering wheel locks, and gear stick locks.

Air tags and similar

are small devices that emit a Bluetooth signal to notify the owner of its location. These devices can be hidden in their owners’ vehicles. If a vehicle is stolen the owner can notify the police that their vehicle has been stolen and its location

 Double-check electronic locking

           Always manually check your vehicle has locked before walking away. 

Thefts of number plates

is also common as they’re often used by criminals to avoid detection.  Number plates can be secured by using anti-theft screws.

Residents should be extra vigilant at this time of the year and report all suspicious activity to the Police immediately, if any resident has any information or CCTV footage that may assist in investigations of these incidents please report to police.

In an emergency, please dial 999, or if you require non urgent response, please use the Do it Online report to log an incident or call 101.