Newcastle drivers are being urged to stay vigilant against car thieves following a rise in thefts from vehicles.
Police have seen an increase in items being stolen from vehicles in the Great Park and Gosforth areas of the city, with opportunist thieves often targeting cars that may have been left unsecured. Now, officers are urging vehicle owners to not leave any items of value on show, or, better still, don’t leave items of value including house keys and documents in your vehicle.
Inspector Paul Cook, of Northumbria Police, said: “Members of the public should make sure that they keep any valuables out of sight when leaving their vehicles. We have seen a rise in reports of thieves going around areas where a lot of cars are parked and seeing items on show and that is when they strike.
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“Those with concerns around security concerning cars which use a push button start should, as a preventative measure, use a faraday pouch which blocks the signal from key fobs. There have only been a small number of high-end vehicles targeted in this way across the force as they require specialist devices and technology to facilitate entry by replicating the signal."
Police have also seen a rise in thefts of electric bikes and are urging owners to make sure they are secured when not using them. Officers carried out high-visibility patrols on Friday, February 24, which included engaging with 27 residents in Great Park whose vehicles were found to be insecure.
Insp Cook added: “A lot of car thieves don’t have the time, nerve, or technology to break into a vehicle – so please don’t make it easier for them by not locking up. We also rely on the public’s eyes and ears and would urge anyone who sees anything suspicious, in particular people trying car doors, to contact police and report it.”
Anyone with concerns of suspected offending can report suspicious behaviour or activity to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101. In an emergency, always call 999. Find out more information from what is happening in your own neighbourhood by signing up to Northumbria Connected. Visit the Northumbria Police website and search ‘Northumbria Connected’ for more information.
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