Forum Topic

Car thefts n W4

There seems to be something of a car theft industry here in W4 -  especially SUVs. If action is caught on video (phone/camera), will the police actually do anything? Can they do anything? Prosecute? What is the deterrent? It seems we have endured a lot of car crime in the area recently, to the extent that I am sure if the police put a decoy car in some roads it would only be a few days/hours before some reprobate tried to pinch it. Appreciate the poor police are short on time, resource and authority these days, and having to deal with various demos in town, but...

Emma Elizabeth ● 270d9 Comments

This report is complete nonsense. Dividing the number of cars stolen by the number of people convicted of stealing cars only gives you the conviction rate if every thief only stole one car. It's embarrassing for the RAC and if you think it proves car theft is now effectively legal, you have been misled.

Francis Rowe ● 256d

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/home-office-data-reveals-minimal-vehicle-thefts-result-in-criminal-charges/

Stuart Newman ● 261d

That’s an interesting perspective - effectively legalised - I guess there’s some truth - if you can ‘do the crime without the time’ then these reprobates will continue to pilfer - time for the country to get a grip of its values and rules

Emma Elizabeth ● 261d

I couldn’t agree more Davey! We’re in a mess

Georgina Flint ● 262d

Like so many things that we used to regard as crimes, car (and bike/bicycle) theft, along with most burglaries, shop thefts and street muggings are legalised, in that the perpetrators are astonishingly unlikely ever to face justice. If only we had at least a semi-functioning police force.

Davey Harris ● 262d

Leave nothing on show,and dont have anything in the car with bluetooth on.Im a believer that these people dont break into cars without a reason. Even just a plastic bag or a lonely cable for a phone will give possible suspision of something possibly in glove box or centre console or boot.Nothing to show a posibility will result in no car break inCar thefts are done by criminal gangs who know how to take your car whatever your security is in place. And im not talking joy riders,taken to ship or break up for parts.

Julian Pavey ● 270d

Remind me of my friend who lives in Osterley and used to leave his works van outside his house, religiously removing everything of value from it and you he had a large notice saying "no power tools are left in this vehicle overnight". He came out one morning to find the back doors prised open and a note saying "just checking".

N V Brooks ● 270d

good advice - I do all of that - but someone still broke into my boot and nicked a single item - fortunately not high value - which was not on show - I guess they took a punt and got lucky

Emma Elizabeth ● 270d

Good physical security like a Krooklok or Disklok provides a good visual deterrent and means that the lowlife will move on to a vehicle without such protectionAlso never, ever, leave anything of value on sight. I am not into 'victim shaming' but it beggars belief of the number of posts stating that 'my laptop/bag / whatever' was stolen from my car seat/footwell.

N V Brooks ● 270d