Police are stepping up patrols after a number of recent reports of car crime.
Police across the city areas have seen a number of offences, including car break-ins, thefts from a motor vehicle and thefts of a motor vehicle in the past month, as well as concerns around unsecured vehicles, spurring on the targeted action.
People across the city can expect to see further patrols and joint work between neighbourhood and local teams as well as investigative departments to both prevent and tackle reports of this nature.
Officers will also be offering advice on how to keep vehicles safe and secure.
Inspector Karl Thomas, neighbourhood policing inspector for city south, said: “Recently we have seen an increase in reports across the city relating to car crime and as such we very quickly began looking at the trends and how to prevent this.
“We believe offenders particularly look for signs that a vehicle might be either unsecured or unlocked and target those that may be easier for them to get into.
“As such, we are urging motorists to take steps to ensure their vehicles are as secure as possible. We would advise people to get alarms fitted into their cars, find a secure place to park if possible and, particularly with a lot of modern cars, understand security features and how they can be compromised, one example being keyless entry.
“The impact of car crime on victims can be tough and varied. They can often be left without very valuable belongings and if their car itself is stolen, they are left out of pocket and without an important mode of transport. They can sometimes also be faced with expensive damage caused by offenders – this is unacceptable and we as the local policing team are dedicated to understanding this further and working to both prevent this and get justice for victims.
“I would urge anyone with information on car crime in their area or anyone with concerns to get in touch with their local neighbourhood policing team and speak to officers in their area or call police on 101.”
