Comic Character Fights Crime

9 November 2011, 15:05 | Updated: 9 November 2011, 15:20

Hertfordshire Constabulary has launched a new way of sharing crime prevention and safety advice with an online comic character, ‘Careless Carl’.

The comic aims to make readers aware of different types of crime and how they can help themselves avoid becoming a victim.
 
In the first issue, Careless Carl is the victim of vehicle crime, having his laptop stolen by notorious villain, Robin Gear.
 
Vehicle crime has significantly reduced this year compared to last year, but there has been a recent spate of thefts across the county, with items such as sat navs, laptops, bags, sunglasses, toys, mobile phones, catalytic converters and number plates all being stolen.  In some cases, the vehicles were left unlocked by owners.
 
The comic aims to show the common mistakes that people make – and subsequently seeks to raise awareness of these mistakes to make it more difficult for opportunistic criminals.
 
Detective Inspector Paul Doran said: “The comic is an innovative way to offer crime prevention and safety advice.  Although the comic is humorous and informal, it does also carry a serious message to offer simple ways to help people protect their property.”
 
New issues of ‘Careless Carl’ will be out on a regular basis.
 
The comic is available to download from the Herts Police website, www.herts.police.uk.  Each issue of the comic will be posted exclusively onto Herts Police’s Facebook and Twitter pages first.  Herts Police’s page on Facebook can be found at www.facebook.com/hertspolice and the Twitter page can be found at www.twitter.com/hertspolice or @HertsPolice, or by searching for #carelesscarl.