Police warn of danger of theft from cars this weekend...

Coventry police are reminding motorists to ensure that they remove any valuable items from their car as part of a new push to tackle vehicle crime and lock out car thieves.



Sat navs, mobile phones, sunglasses, loose change and passports have all been stolen from vehicles across Coventry as they've either been left on display on seats and dashboards or stashed away in the glove box.

With sat navs and mobile phones being such attractive items for thieves, police are urging people not to leave themselves vulnerable to being targeted by opportunistic criminals.

Inspector Hasson Shigdar, from Coventry Police, said: "We want to remind people to remove all valuable items from their cars - which means out of glove boxes too - thieves will look there first.

"Particularly with mobile phones, which are now peoples' cameras, photo collections and social connections all rolled into one - they're more valuable than just in monetary terms.

"We are working hard to arrest vehicle crime offenders and are patrolling out in vulnerable locations regularly. Known offenders are managed closely by Coventry's Offender Management Team.

"We're just asking motorists to help themselves by taking really simple crime prevention tips as ideally we want to prevent the crime from occurring in the first place. Our message is simple: Think, lock it away and never leave your valuables on display."

Recent examples of thefts from cars in Coventry during August are:

· Music player stolen from the front of a car in Longford. £100 damage also caused to the car as the window was smashed. Thankfully the item was recovered and a suspected offender was arrested by police nearby.

· In Styvechale a sat nav and CDs were stolen from the glovebox of a car.

· In Walsgrave a car thief smashed a driver-side window on a vehicle and stole two pairs of sunglasses, each valued at around £100.

· Credit cards and a driving licence were stolen from a vehicle in Earlsdon.

· A games console and two passports were taken from a car in Tile Hill.

· Five pounds in loose change left on dashboard in Coundon proved too tempting for a car thief to ignore. CCTV enquiries by officers show the offender trying door handles on cars in the street before finding one that had been left unlocked.

Police are also urging trades people to think about their vehicle security and the potential impact upon their livelihoods as in recent weeks there have been 12 offences of tool thefts from vans. Offenders have in some cases forced open doors and locks, damaging the vans in the process.

Insp Shigdar added: "Tools are extremely valuable possessions and when stolen, can impact hugely on small businesses. We'd urge all van owners to remove their tools from the vehicle when it is left unattended for long periods of time and overnight. Also put a sign on the window saying they've been removed.

"Keep a list of tools, together with serial numbers and any identifying marks. You can do this at http://www.immobilise.com. That way if they're ever stolen, you're more likely to get them back. If you use these tools for your business, then thieves aren't only stealing your belongings, they're potentially stealing your next job."

One van owner in Stoke had drills, spanners, screwdrivers and various power tools stolen from his transit van as he left them in there overnight. The tools were valued at around £400, but the damage to the van alone is estimated at £500.

In Willenhall a smashed window, hundreds of pounds of damage and a stolen concrete slab cutter greeted one van owner the next morning.

A new publicity campaign − 'Cash on the Dash' - has been launched by West Midlands Police to urge motorists to remove all valuables and secure their vehicle before they leave it.

Members of the public are urged to call police on 101 if they see any suspicious behaviour or to contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.