Council spearheads partnership working to address increase in vehicle related crime
Following a noted increase in vehicle related crime in Buckinghamshire, the council’s Community Safety Team has been working with partners, including Thames Valley Police (TVP), to raise public awareness of how to protect vehicles from being targeted.
The Community Safety Team successfully bid for funding from the Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner to run a vehicle crime project across Buckinghamshire. The funding has been used to support a range of activities including:
- Clear car campaigns – Community safety officers and the local TVP neighbourhood team have visited car parks and noted down registration details of vehicles displaying items on show, which could lead to a potential break in. Items such as wallets, handbags and cash were spotted by officers. Owners leaving valuables on show will receive a crime prevention letter with advice and information on how to keep their vehicle safe.
- Pop up events – Providing residents with vehicle crime prevention advice and items such as keyless car signal blocking pouches.
- Vehicle crime signage – Will be displayed in beauty spots and pub/hotel car park locations with a high vehicle crime rate to increase awareness around vehicle crime.
- Number plate screws – In partnership with Kwik Fit, eight garages across Buckinghamshire have been provided with anti-tamper proof number plate screws to install on vehicles. This is a free service offered to local communities to help reduce number plate thefts. Along with securing their number plates, those who use this service will receive an air freshener, ice scraper, vehicle stickers and leaflets all displaying vehicle crime related messages. Garages will record how many have been installed so the effectiveness of the project can be monitored.
Arif Hussain, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities said:
“Vehicle crime is a very real concern in Buckinghamshire but there are lots of ways people can make it more difficult to be targeted and to protect their vehicle. A really simple step we can all take is to not make our car an easy target by leaving items and valuables on display where it can be an open invitation to a criminal.
“Crime of any kind is upsetting and disruptive for the victims involved and our Community Safety Team works hard alongside our partners to support communities to prevent crimes like these from happening.”
For more information on community safety in Buckinghamshire visit: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-and-safety/safety-and-crime-in-your-community