I was in Cotesbach for a meeting and heard that there had been some vehicle crime recently. Thefts of motor vehicles, and from motor vehicles, is on the rise. In part this is driven by changes in criminal technology – for instance it has become easier to copy and clone electronic key fobs – but more sophisticated organisation by a small number of gangs is also a factor.
I would like to see our police:
- Lobby manufacturers to improve the security of the vehicles they make;
- Target and disrupt car boot sales and other venues where power tools stolen from vehicles are sold;
- Contact owners of vulnerable vehicles to give crime prevention advice;
- Encourage Neighbourhood Policing units to gather, analyse and use data on emerging crime patterns;
- Put more police on patrol in high risk areas to target and disrupt gangs.
