|
I wanted to provide an update regarding the theft of motor vehicles, which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey. Thousands of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds are stolen across the UK each year. Hayes & Coney Hall has experienced some unwanted attention of late. Some motorcycles are stolen to be exported by highly organised criminals, others to be broken up for parts for re-sale or used in cloning motorcycles. These potentially dangerous machines are then sold on as genuine motorcycles without the new owner knowing the true history of the motorcycle.
It takes seconds for a thief to steal a motorcycle or scooter if it is unprotected, so to help prevent the theft of your motorcycle we suggest you give your motorcycle a little ‘TLC’. Tracking systems can improve the chances of recovering your motorcycle if it is stolen and even help trace it overseas in some cases. Choosing the security level or type of lock is down to individual circumstance and personal preference as we all use our motorcycles, scooters and mopeds in different ways - couriers, commuting to work, touring, social and pleasure use.
Secured by Design is a good site to start looking into vehicle crime prevention.
 We know that people can be concerned about the personal and financial impact of having their vehicle stolen, which is why we will pursue and arrest those who break the law. Please consider taking the following steps to keep your vehicle safe: Check that your vehicle is locked and secure every time you leave it. Thieves often look for easy opportunities to steal from vehicles. They will usually try the handles until they get lucky and find one that has been left unlocked. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home and away from your front door. If you have a keyless entry vehicle, keep the key well away from the vehicle while at home and turn off wireless signals on your fob when its not being used. Consider putting the keys in a screened or signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check that it is still working every few months. Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you don’t have access to one, try to park in a well –lit open space. Try to use public car parks that are part of the police approved Park Mark safer parking scheme. Secure your number plates with tamper resistant screws to avoid them being stolen and used by others.
If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years. |