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Barnet Police are issuing guidelines after a spate of thefts and burglaries where the target has been the car parked outside the house. Since January 2006 there have been 383 burglaries reported to police, within those 45 vehicles have been stolen. Most modern cars nowadays have excellent security, forcing thieves to resort to having to use the keys to the vehicle to steal them. This often means breaking into the house to steal the keys to the car or using rods or canes through letterboxes to remove the keys from just inside the front door. So what can car owners do? Click Read More to find out
Well for a start; look at where the car is parked. If you have a garage, why isn’t the car in the garage? Out of sight is out of mind. If thieves can’t see your car, they can’t be tempted to steal it. It would be worth some owners having a clear out in the garage and throwing away the old tins of paint, bits and pieces of wood “that will come in handy someday” and making room for the car, which is worth a lot more! A point worth noting here is that insurance companies will often contact police to find out details of crimes and if your insurance policy is dependent upon the car behind stored overnight in a garage and it wasn’t - they may well reduce the value of the claim. Secondly, if you value your car and it is high powered or high value, consider getting a “Tracker” or other vehicle location device fitted. Again, insurance companies will recommend this action and while it may not stop the vehicle being stolen, it may act as a deterrent and there is always a good chance it could be found before too much damage is done. Finally, HIDE YOUR CAR KEYS! make sure your keys are kept in a safe place and not necessarily near the front door. To prevent the keys being hooked through the letter box there are letterbox cages and deflectors that can be bought and installed at minimal cost to prevent this. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Edwards, Crime Manager for Barnet Police said, “Residents of Barnet should be aware that this crime is happening. Car keys should not be kept near the front door or anywhere where they can be seen through ground floor doors and windows. It is essential that we get the message across to people”. If you would like further specialist or personal advice on keeping your car and your home secure, contact PC Duncan Hillcoat, one of our Crime Prevention Officers at Barnet Police on 0208 733 5092. You can also visit our website at www.met.police.uk/barnet
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Barnet Police News 
