Good afternoon. We’re advising people to make sure their vehicles are left secure following a spate of vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles in Stoke-on-Trent recently. Officers have been working hard to go after the thieves responsible for these crimes and have recovered a number of stolen vehicles recently. One stolen motorbike was seized in Blurton on 20 April and two men were arrested. We also seized two stolen motorbikes and eight stolen motorbikes from an address in Meir earlier this month. We’re also urging local communities to make sure you know how you can limit the chances of being targeted by thieves. We are advising people to: Always lock their vehicles, even when filling up or parked on a driveKeep the keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front doorConsider using a faraday pouch to store your electronic car keys. They can stop the signal from being clonedBe aware of carjackers; always drive with the doors locked and when queuing, leaving enough space in front to enable you to get out of a tight spotAlways park in a well-lit and busy area where possibleIf your car has electronic locking, always manually check your vehicle is locked before walking awayWe’ve also seen a spate of thefts from vehicles in the Stoke-on-Trent area recently, where people have had valuables and cash stolen from inside their car. Officers are advising people to: Close your windows and sun roof when leaving vehicles unattendedFit locking, anti-tamper wheel nuts to secure alloy wheelsTake your belongings with you, or hide them in the car. Never leave your mobile phone, cash, sunglasses, medication or other items on showIf you need to store work tools in your van overnight, ensure to mark them clearly with the company name. This makes the items more difficult to sell on. Kind regards Charlotte PCSO 24327 CARRINGTON |