Police from the South Brisbane District are encouraging motorists to be more vigilant with their vehicle security and to remove any belongings in a bid to avoid becoming a victim of property theft, Queensland Police say.
South Brisbane Crime Prevention Coordinator Sergeant Michelle Mullen said police are reminding motorists to not only secure their vehicles to avoid opportunistic thefts, but also to remove all items from plain sight which can act like a beacon for thieves.
"To the opportunistic thief, it is very hard to pass up an easy target when seeing personal belongings in an unattended vehicle," Sergeant Mullen said.
Police are reporting that even when vehicles are secure, offenders are going to certain lengths to get inside to steal property that is easily visible from the outside.
"Even when you do the right thing by locking your vehicle, it still isn’t a deterrent to some thieves," Sergeant Mullen said.
"We are seeing offenders manipulating door locks, damaging door seals and even smashing windows to access locked vehicles because of property that were visible inside. Sometimes the cost of repairing the damage caused to the vehicle exceeds the value of the items stolen."
The main items in vehicles that are being targeted by offenders are wallets, small change, sunglasses, phones and handbags/backpacks.
Police have a special message to tradies as their vehicles are a common target due to their easy access ute trays and the certainty of tools inside.
"We ask tradies to secure as many of their tools as possible inside tool boxes with a decent lock attached, and by engraving all their tools," Sergeant Mullen.
"Engraving tools can help deter theft as marked property is more difficult for thieves to offload."
For tips on how to engrave your property visit our website here.
Police would like all motorists to help reduce the risk of falling victim to vehicle breaks and opportunistic thieves by:
- Always securing their vehicle, including the boot and sunroof, by locking the doors and ensuring all windows are fully closed,
- Removing all valuables and belongings; if items need to stay in the vehicle ensure they are out of sight,
- Parking off road in a secure location whenever possible.
Motorists are also encouraged to check their registration plates and make sure they are secure. The theft of plates from motor vehicles and motorbikes has occurred in the area, some even while parked on private property. To prevent this, one-way screws are a simple yet highly effective deterrent that are fitted to registration plates with a standard screwdriver, but can’t be removed by one. The screws are available for purchase at most hardware and automotive stores and are strongly encouraged to be used.
Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
