Following recent events in Durley please find below some helpful advice for all vehicle owners:-
If you leave valuable possessions (e.g. handbags, laptops, satnavs, iPods, mobile phones, cameras) on show inside a vehicle, it is much more likely to be targeted by thieves. Even items of little value, such as shopping bags and clothing, may tempt a potential thief to break into the vehicle to see whether they contain anything worth stealing. Offences can take place during the day or night, whether a vehicle is parked in a driveway, on the street or in a public car park. Typically. thieves will smash windows to gain entry. Sometimes they will break door locks or, on older vehicles, prise the door away from the body of the vehicle.
Here is some good advice to follow to ensure that you don’t end the day without a smile:
- Before heading off for that picnic or walk, when leaving your car parked up, close all windows and lock your car.
- Upon locking your vehicle try your car door to ensure it is actually locked.
- Park your car in an attended car park where possible.
- Look for public car parks approved by the Park Mark scheme.
- When parking at home, use your garage. If you don’t have a garage, park in a well-lit area.
- Don’t leave anything on display in your vehicle.
- Take all your personal possessions with you.
- Remove sat nav holders and visible sat nav ring marks from windscreens.
- Leave the glove box open to show there’s nothing inside.
- Fit an alarm or immobiliser to your car.
- Do not store your car’s documents in the car.
- Secure your wheels using locking wheel nuts.
