Police 'steal' valuables in a lesson for drivers prevent theft

Officers are taking everything from handbags to satnavs, and leaving a note telling drivers their property is at a local police station.

The scheme is being tried out in Richmond, which has a disproportionately high level of thefts from cars - up 40 per cent in a year. Police from the area's Safer Neighbourhood teams are being told to look out for cars with open windows or doors.

If they find valuables on display they will try to find the owner nearby, but if they cannot they will take the goods to Twickenham police station. Drivers who leave their car unlocked but with nothing on display will get a letter telling them to be more careful.

The project has the backing of Richmond council, which agreed to it after a surge in thefts to 300 between April and July, a fifth of which were from unlocked cars.

David Williams, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "We have the lowest level of crime per head of any borough. However, one problem we have got is too many thefts from motor vehicles. The main reason for this is sheer thoughtlessness and carelessness by car owners."

He said most people who had their things taken from their cars by police were "relieved" and found it helpful.

Luke Bosdet, a spokesman for the AA, was cautious about the project. "Not everyone will react well to having to go to the police station to retrieve their property. However, if they are stupid enough to leave items in an unlocked car then a gentle reminder is perhaps what they need," he said.

OVERNITE

POLICE officers are removing valuables from unlocked cars in an effort to shock motorists into being more careful with their possessions.

Officers are taking everything from hand bags to sat-navs and golf clubs, and leaving the driver a note informing them their possessions have been taken to a local police station for collection.

The scheme is being tried out in Richmond, which has a disproportionately high level of thefts from cars - up 40 per cent in a single year.

Police from the area's safer neighbourhood schemes are being told to look out for cars with open windows or their doors left ajar.

If they find valuables on display they will take them and try to find the owner nearby.

But if they cannot the "stolen" goods will be taken to Twickenham police station and the drivers left a note explaining what has happened.

Those who leave their car unsecured but with nothing on display will get a letter telling them to be more careful.

The project has the backing of Richmond Council which agreed to it after a surge in thefts, up 40 per cent on the previous year to 300 between April and July this year. A fifth involve thefts from unlocked cars.

Councillor David Williams, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "We are proud in Richmond upon Thames to be the safest borough in London. We have the lowest level of crime per head of any borough.

"However one problem we have got is too many thefts from motor vehicles which have gone up significantly in the last year.

"The main reason for this is sheer thoughtlessness and carelessness by car owners. People leaving lap tops and brief cases and hand bags and sat navs on view in cars which are not locked.

"The police have been very pro-active about this.

"The universal reaction from the people this has happened to is relief and acceptance that this was a helpful thing to do."

Mr Williams said it was hoped that "word would get around" about the operation, and drivers would become more security conscious.

"The last thing we want is for criminals to feel that Richmond, which I imagine has a higher than average value of cars on the street, is somewhere where there is opportunity for crime because people leave things in open cars," he said.

"We want to change the pattern. People think that because Richmond is a safe place it is all right to leave cars open, and that is not the case.

"The other issue is that if Richmond gets a reputation for car thefts then all our insurance premiums will go up."

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: "We are trying to prevent people from becoming victims."

Luke Bosdet, a spokesman for the AA, gave the pilot a cautious welcome.

"If there has been a spate of thefts then this is absolutely the right thing to do," he said.

"I can see that not everyone will react well to having to go all the way down to the police station to retrieve their own property, however if they are stupid enough to leave high level items in an unlocked car then a gentle reminder is perhaps what they need.

"Leaving valuables in your car is a stupid thing to do, particularly at this time of year when kids are not at school and might perhaps be tempted by an open car in a way they would not otherwise be."

ENDS.