Surge in car crime sparks warning - The Redditch Standard

Surge in car crime sparks warning

Redditch Editorial 5th Jun, 2014 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

A SUGRE in car crime over the weekend has sparked a warning for motorists to be more vigilant.

About 18 cars were targeted by thieves across the borough including seven overnight between Saturday and Sunday (May 31 and June 1) which were parked at Redditch Cricket Club on Bromsgrove Road.

The windows were smashed and once inside the offenders searched the vehicles and stole various items including cash, an iPod and a sat nav. The back seats were lowered so the thieves could gain access to the boot area, where they stole further items including cricket clothing and shoes.

In Church Hill a black Vauxhall Corsa had its window smashed on Exhall Close between Sunday and Monday, while two men were seen breaking into a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Redstone Close about 1am on Saturday (May 31). A window was also smashed on a white transit van on the same road.




On Ipsley Church Lane in Matchborough, offenders climbed over a gate onto a driveway and forced entry into a horsebox where they caused damage between Friday and Sunday.

A piece of concrete was used to smash the passenger window of a car parked on Yardley Close between 12.30am and 20am on Sunday, while cash was stolen from a Ford Fiesta on Frankton Close between 12.30am and 8am on Saturday.


A Land Rover which was parked in a secure parking space was also stolen between Saturday and Sunday in Rushock Close in Woodrow.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: “While the number of vehicle-related crimes in Redditch was abnormally high last weekend they range widely from criminal damage to theft and, apart from the seven at the cricket club, there is no pattern indicating that they were carried out by the same offenders.

“However we are monitoring the situation and our patrols will be tasked accordingly as we move into this weekend.”

Motorists are being advised to park in garages or visible locations, remove all valuables particularly sat navs and electronic devices and be on the lookout for suspicious activity near parked vehicles.

Property should also be security marked and added to the national property register at www.immobilise.com to help police recover items if it is stolen.

Anyone with any information about vehicle crime should call police on 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.

Advertising

Advertise with the Redditch Standard to reach your audience

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Redditch Standard.