The police are mounting special patrols in East Swindon following a series of attempted vehicle break-ins.
A force spokesperson said: "Officers from the East Swindon Neighbourhood Team have been out on foot patrol over the past three nights in response to recent reports of unknown offenders attempting to get into vehicles.
"We would like to urge members of the public to be vigilant following these concerns and take precautions to ensure the safety of their vehicles.
"Please can local residents, who have CCTV covering their properties, check their cameras to see if they can identify any suspicious activity?
"If you spot anything, please contact us on 101, quoting crime reference number 54210007600; you can leave your details and an officer will then make contact with you to obtain that footage.
"Also, while on patrol in the early hours of this morning - 4 March - officers stopped a male moped rider on Eldene Drive . They could then smell cannabis on the rider so carried out a roadside drugs test for which he registered positive.
"A 17-year-old local boy was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. He has now been released under investigation while our enquiries continue."
In relation vehicle security, the police recommend:
- Keep your vehicle locked, windows shut and your keys secure
- Put the key card/fob in a Faraday case/pouch to block any transmissions
- Park the vehicle in a locked garage where possible
- Where possible, park in a well-lit area and in clear view of your property and any CCTV cameras
- Do not leave any valuables such as wallets, phones, satnavs etc on display
- Use an additional steering lock.
- Mark the items of property/tools that are stored in the vehicle using an artificial DNA property marker such as Smartwater or SelectaDNA
- If you have a second, non-keyless vehicle, park that behind the high value one
- Check with your car dealership as they can offer advice, and the manufacturer/dealer can often track the vehicle if it is stolen
- If the vehicle is a company car, check with your fleet managers who can offer crime prevention and tracking advice
The spokesperson added: "Call 999 immediately if you see a crime in progress or any suspicious activity around vehicles in your area. Please note the registration numbers of any vehicles used and descriptions of those involved if possible.
"Alternatively, you can call 101 or if reporting anonymously, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Your Comments
Be the first to comment on this article
Login or Register to post a comment on this article