Anti car crime campaign launch

10:53am Thursday 7th August 2008

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AN anti car crime campaign is being launched.

Members of the Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership are working together to raise awareness of security issues to prevent people falling victim to vehicle related crime.

The ‘Empty your car before a thief does’ campaign launches in August targeting residents and visitors to the district.

The campaign draws attention to simple measures people can take to protect their cars.

It advises to lock all doors, close windows and shut the sun roof every time you leave a vehicle unattended.

It explains that many vehicles get broken into in the few seconds or minutes that a vehicle is out of the driver’s sight.

The campaign also recommends not leaving anything on display, including a coat or plastic bag.

If you own a sat nav always remove it from your vehicle, along with the suction pad and support cradles and the marks they leave behind.

In addition, don’t put a sat nav in the boot or in the glove box and record the model and serial number of your system and property mark with a permanent marker pen.

The campaign will see the installation of talking signs in the district’s main car parks, which give out vehicle crime prevention messages to shoppers.

Summer road shows will be held in Kidderminster and Stourport offering practical advice and information.

The launch road show will be taking place on August 18 from 10am to 2pm at the Riverside, Stourport.

Chairwoman of the Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership, Helen Dyke, said: “Although we have seen a 22 per cent reduction in car crime in the Wyre Forest over the last 12 months, the partnership is still urging residents to take more care and remove valuables from their cars to reduce temptation. We really do need your help to beat the local vehicle crime thieves.”