20 July 2011

Don't leave stuff in your cars

20 July 2011 | By johnboy

ACT Policing is reminding Canberrans not to leave valuables in their cars after a spate of vehicle break-ins at car parks in Lyneham in the past month.

During the past five weeks the Hockey Centre car park has had up to 40 vehicle break-ins. Seven vehicles were broken into at the Netball Centre car park last night (Tuesday, 19 July).

Acting Superintendent Peter Davis said that the break-ins are opportunistic with members of the public leaving their valuables in plain view.

“Unfortunately most of these thefts are due to poor security practices, most of the vehicles hit have valuable items left in plain view. The offenders are targeting property such as wallets, cash and sporting equipment so we urge people to take these items with them when the leave the vehicle.”

There were also a number car break-ins Southside between 2am and 7am this morning (Wednesday, 20 July).

The cars, parked in McLuckie Crescent and Wiburd Street in Banks, had their windows smashed and locks damaged. Although a number of glove boxes were searched by the offenders, no items were reported stolen.

Police are investigating the vehicle break-ins and ask anyone with any information or who has seen suspicious people in the car park to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers website on www.act.crimestoppers.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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Watson4:07 pm 21 Jul 11

It sounds like it would be a lot cheaper to just leave your car unlocked?

mutley2:47 pm 21 Jul 11

Of course, taking everything of value out of your car doesn’t stop the sh1tbags as evidenced by the southside breakins referenced in the same article.

Jivrashia2:32 pm 21 Jul 11

p1 said :

I am pretty tempted to take my parts car down the they Lyneham Hockey centre (on a car trailer – engine is stuffed) and leave it with a $50 note on the dash, glued to the biggest rat trap I can find.

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Captain RAAF said :

I reckon an air-rifle equipped sniper positioned on a nearby grassy knoll would be shit-tins of fun and you can just slink away into the night, with the cries of the wounded thieves echoing into the night behind you.

qbngeek said :

I am serious, I was just fitting four-point broadheads to my arrow shafts, fitting the string silencers on my bow and making sure my gillie suit was ready to go for tonight.

People, please. We should let the professionals handle this.

Anyone got the contact details of the contractors who culled the roos around Canberra? This time they ain’t roos, but they’re still ferals that need to be dealt with appropriately.

creative_canberran1:38 pm 21 Jul 11

That’s easier said than done. Thieves are nicking things like airbag assemblies, steering wheels and even centre console fittings according to one dealership.

qbngeek12:02 pm 21 Jul 11

Classified said :

fgzk said :

Your all talk. Is it the violence that motivates you to take action. If you take the violence out and employ a little technology then you could identify the thieves. Then pass on the proof to the police or crime stoppers. Wireless internet, a camera and net users, could monitor a car park. Offer a small reward and your well on the way to motivating people to contribute to their own security. The same thing could work for illegal dumping.

Umm, I don’t think people are serious, dude!

I am serious, I was just fitting four-point broadheads to my arrow shafts, fitting the string silencers on my bow and making sure my gillie suit was ready to go for tonight.

Are we not going???

Classified11:42 am 21 Jul 11

fgzk said :

Your all talk. Is it the violence that motivates you to take action. If you take the violence out and employ a little technology then you could identify the thieves. Then pass on the proof to the police or crime stoppers. Wireless internet, a camera and net users, could monitor a car park. Offer a small reward and your well on the way to motivating people to contribute to their own security. The same thing could work for illegal dumping.

Umm, I don’t think people are serious, dude!

Calamity11:29 am 21 Jul 11

Keijidosha said :

Surely if there have been 40 break-ins in the same carpark within 5 weeks it would be worth the police staking the place out in an unmarked car? Just sayin’.

+1 to that. It does seem a bit crazy that it’s even possible for them to re-offend in the same area SO many times in such a short period! You know where they are, you know what they’re doing, what is stopping you from catching them in the act?

Obviously it is not smart to leave goods on display – but it does seem mad to me that they haven’t been caught yet! They’re not exactly criminal masterminds, are they?

dvaey10:58 am 21 Jul 11

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them

In the US, theyre called ‘Bait Cars’. In Australia, the police call it ‘boring work with little financial gain’. Mind you, neither would beat the perpertrator up, theyd simply arrest them, and chuck em in jail in the US, or slap em on the wrist over here.

Ive always wondered why bait cars have never been employed in Canberra.. you’d sure see the number of car breakins drop if people thought the police might be using bait cars.

fgzk10:40 am 21 Jul 11

Your all talk. Is it the violence that motivates you to take action. If you take the violence out and employ a little technology then you could identify the thieves. Then pass on the proof to the police or crime stoppers. Wireless internet, a camera and net users, could monitor a car park. Offer a small reward and your well on the way to motivating people to contribute to their own security. The same thing could work for illegal dumping.

Jungle Jim10:23 am 21 Jul 11

Captain RAAF said :

Stevian said :

00davist said :

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Hmmm…

I’m in!

You’d get more for assault, than they would for attempted theft, and then there’s the civil action they could take against you (and win). Works for me

More for assault? Who said anything about getting caught?

I reckon an air-rifle equipped sniper positioned on a nearby grassy knoll would be shit-tins of fun and you can just slink away into the night, with the cries of the wounded thieves echoing into the night behind you.