Beware of Beauty Spot Thefts (Salisbury area)

Officers in Salisbury are reminding people to keep their valuables safe and not make their car an easy target for thieves.

With Spring upon us bringing sunny days many people will be out enjoying the local beauty spots in Wiltshire. 

 Thieves are known to target beauty spots and by leaving valuables in full view car owners are advertising for criminals to help themselves.

Yesterday, Monday 18^th April 2011, police received reports of a young male acting suspiciously looking into a vehicle at a beauty spot car park at the Old Sarum Castle in Salisbury. Security Staff approached the young man at 5:30pm but he made off on a red BMX bicycle towards Hudson Fields. The youth was aged approximately 14-15yrs, white with short fair hair and was wearing a blue t-shirt.

 Visible inside the rear of the car he’d been looking in was a laptop. Therefore, vehicle owners are urged to follow the below advice:

•  When parking, try to leave the car where it is overlooked from the road, neighbouring buildings or an area such as a picnic site where other people can act as natural guardians
• Try to park near to other vehicles
• Satellite navigation systems are an increasing object of desire to criminals. If you have a portable system always take it with you when you leave the car, together with the support cradle and suction pads. And remember to wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves will look out for these.
• Don’t leave sat-navs or other valuables such as purses or handbags in the glove compartment and don’t try to hide anything under the seat – thieves will check these areas first.
• Mark your satellite navigation equipment system and any other ‘in-car’ entertainment systems such as audio and video players with your postcode and house number. Remember to also register it at www.immobilise.com.
• Make a note of the make, model and serial number of the equipment and keep the note somewhere safe – not in the car.
• Lock all doors and windows, not forgetting the sunroof, when leaving your car.
• Don’t leave anything on view in your car. Thieves are opportunists and it only takes a moment to break in. Remember that even an empty bag or a coat left on a back seat of a locked car can be sufficiently tempting for a thief to smash a window. So, whenever you can, take property with you when you leave the car, but if this really is impossible, lock it in the boot out of sight.

Community Beat Manager for Salisbury PC Mel Wilson said:

‘Scenic areas are vulnerable to theft because the places are often isolated and much of the time there is no one around to witness the offence. There has been a spate of vehicle crime at this location previously. We urge people not to leave bags or other valuables in their cars as such items on show are very tempting and an easy target for thieves.  We are working to reduce crime in beauty spot areas by conducting regular high visibility patrols and advising car owners, however, car thieves are opportunistic so please be careful to protect your valuables during the coming months.’

 Possible witnesses who may have sighted the young man acting suspiciously or leaving the area are urged to contact Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000. Alternatively people can contact Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if they wish.