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Portsmouth police send out warning Don’t leave items in your car

Press Releases

Published: 11/05/2011


Police in the Fratton area of Portsmouth are warning residents and business owners not to leave any items in their cars when unattended.

This advice follows three incidents over the last three weeks in the Nelson area of Fratton, where cars have been broken into and items have been taken.

At some time during the night on Thursday, April 21, a Citroen Saxo had its front door forced open and a hockey kit and hooded top containing a debit card were stolen.

A week later, during the night on Thursday, April 28, a Honda Civic company car had its window smashed and a laptop and projector worth nearly £2,000 were taken.

Over night on Sunday, May 8, a Peugeot 206 had its window smashed, however nothing was taken as no items were in the vehicle.

All three vehicles were parked in Garfield Road when they were broken into. PC Mark Treharne of the Nelson Safer Neighbourhoods team said: “We are taking swift actions to put a stop to this issue before it escalates.

“The issue seems to be that items are being stored inside the vehicles out of sight, but they are still being broken into and searched at the off chance that the offender or offenders find anything.

“We are urging car owners to always remove all items from their vehicles, and make sure they show that the car is clearly empty. This can be done by leaving the glove box open, not leaving a coat that may be covering something in the footwell, remove your radio if it can be taken out, and if you have a sat nav device, always take all the cables out with you and remove any sucker marks the holding device leaves on the windscreen.”

Safer Neighbourhoods officers have been conducting regular patrols in the area and engaging with residents and businesses in the surrounding area, giving crime prevention advice and alerting them of the issue.

PC Treharne added: “I am also asking anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious at the time of any of these incidents to please get in touch.

“Having your car broken into can be distressing as well as costly and inconvenient, and we want ensure this problem is resolved and people’s quality of life is improved.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Treharnes at Fratton police station on 101, or alternatively the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. If it is an emergency, always dial 999.

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Kat Harding          992 / 11052011

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