Car Crime Victim Makes Video To Help Others

31 July 2011, 06:00 | Updated: 31 July 2011, 08:46

A Hertfordshire car crime victim has shared his advice to help other drivers keep their property secure after a number of thefts across the county.

Allen Flay, who lives in Harpenden, had been a victim of a number of thefts from his vehicle and was keen to share his experiences so that others could learn from them.

Whilst local officers have been patrolling neighbourhoods to issue advice and send a clear message to criminals that they are on the look out for those responsible, motorists can help by taking some simple steps:

"I don't leave anything in the car at all," said Allen. "Even if you leave a little thing in the car, they'll think you've got sat navs and iPods and things like that.

"Even if you remove your sat nav, the sticker there [on the windscreen] shows the true story that it could still be in your car - even if it's shoved under a chair, they look for a bit of cable or something like that."

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Williamson, who leads on crime reduction for the force, commented: "We're grateful to Allen for sharing his experiences with us and hope that others listen to his very sound advice. The Constabulary is working hard to tackle car crime, but motorists have a part to play too.

"The message is simple - remove anything of value from your car, and keep everything else out of sight. Even if you know that there is nothing in your coat pocket left on the back seat, an opportunistic thief may try his luck - leaving you with the inconvenience of repairs, insurance claims and replacing goods, along with the heartache of losing prized possessions."

Residents can help too by reporting any suspicious activity to police. In an emergency or if a crime is happening there and then, always dial 999. If anyone has any information on car crime, please call us on the non-emergency number 101 or alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

• Make sure you lock the doors and shut the windows and sunroof whenever you leave your vehicle unattended.
• Remove your Sat Nav and its holder, and wipe away any suction marks as these could suggest to a potential thief that a sat nav is stored in your vehicle.
• Never leave any valuables in your vehicle - not even in the glove-box or boot - and keep ALL other possessions out of sight.
• Use an approved steering lock or gear clamp, and remember to set your immobiliser and alarm if you have them.
• Register your stereo, laptop, sat nav and any other property on the free online property database www.immobilise.com. It only takes a few minutes and could help police trace your property if it’s lost or stolen.
• Look out for car parks with a Park Mark Safer Parking sign which have recognised levels of security. If you have a garage at home, make sure you use it and lock it properly.