Bromley Police Vehicle crime initiative

Bromley Police have launched a huge proactive vehicle crime initiative this week, in response to a recent increase in theft from motor vehicle offences across the borough. The initiative will see increased patrols and enforcements, including both covert and overt policing patrols across the borough, especially in the areas that are experiencing high numbers of offences. Specialist MPS teams will also be supporting borough policing units to deliver the operation.

Bromley Police are also reissuing their warning for residents not to leave anything on display in their vehicles after the spate of thefts. Items stolen include numerous sat navs, laptops, iphones, ipads, handbags, wallets, golf clubs & power tools. One person even had a sat nav, iphone and £5,000 cash stolen from their vehicle.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Furphy from Bromley Police said: "We are urging people to take action to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of this type of crime and there are a number of steps that you can take to close down the opportunities for criminals to target you. Never leave anything on display when you park your car. An old coat or a plastic bag can tempt a thief - even if your coat or bag does not contain anything valuable, a thief does not know that and may still break a window or force a lock to get at it. Don't leave any purchases you have just bought on display in your car. Remove all property when leaving your vehicle unattended.

The most commonly stolen items include laptops, handbags, mobile phones, tools and sat nav systems. Remove your Sat Nav system from your vehicle completely. Do not leave them in the glove compartment or boot and make sure you remove the cradle that holds it and wipe away any suction marks on the windscreen or dashboard. An empty cradle or suction marks are a dead giveaway as to what may be hidden in the vehicle and may be enough of an incentive for a thief to break in. Our message is 'take it or lose it', never leave valuables in your vehicle.

Please also lock your vehicle. This may seem like common sense but every day we have reports of thefts from vehicles that have been left insecure.

This link shows how quickly cars can be broken into http://t.co/TIt1r1KSQV

Police advice is:

• Most vehicle crime is preventable. It can take as little as 10 seconds for a thief to steal something from your car. If at all possible, leave nothing on view.
• NEVER leave valuable items in your car - cash, credit cards, chequebook, mobile phones, vehicle documents or other valuables in the car. This includes your Sat Nav.
• Don't leave presents or purchases on the back seat.
• Always close the windows and sunroof; lock the doors and activate any security devices when leaving your car unattended.
• Always park with care, particularly at night or if you are leaving the vehicle for a long time. If possible, park in a busy, well-lit area.