Protect the property in your vehicle

    07 January 2008

    Man attempting to break into car

    Don't play into a thief's hands by leaving your vehicle unsafe or with your valuables inside.

    That is the message Safer Caerphilly County Borough Community Safety Partnership is putting out to stop opportunist thieves from taking easy pickings.

    Take the following steps to help foil the thieves:

    • Leave your glove box open and empty so thieves can see you are not concealing anything
    • Lock the vehicle
    • Close the windows
    • Remove "pull out" radios
    • Do not leave property or items on view in vehicles

    With reference to the last point, Gwent Police have introduced their own initiative entitled "Items on View" whereby steps are taken to minimise the risk of theft from vehicles in the county borough.

    The scheme depends on the PCSO's (Police Community Support Officers) and Community Safety Wardens who patrol the various wards of the county borough on a daily basis. If they notice that a particular vehicle has items on view to the general public, they will note down the registration number of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle is then able to be traced, and are then informed via a letter, that an officer has noted that they had items on view in their vehicle at a particular date, time, etc.

    Along with the letter, an information pack is sent out to the vehicle owner, containing:

    • A leaflet highlighting the seriousness of theft from vehicles and vehicle crime.
    • A tax disc holder complete with "Items on View" logo.
    • An "Items on View" carrier bag to store belongings out of view (perhaps in the boot of the vehicle)
    • A wet-wipe in order to remove the suction pad residue left on the windscreen from satellite navigation systems.

    The feedback gained from the vehicle owners who have received an "Items on View" information pack from Gwent Police has been incredibly positive.

    PC John Elstone, Divisional Crime Prevention Officer for Caerphilly County Borough said, "We have found that the majority of local people feel extremely valued by the personal element of the initiative. Many people simply do not realise that theft from vehicles is such a prominent issue in society today."

    For further crime prevention advice, contact Gwent Police on (01633) 838111.

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