Local Priorities Theft Of Motor Vehicles Message

Local Priorities Theft Of Motor Vehicles Message

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.

Please be aware that we have seen an increase in Theft of Motor Vehicle offences across the area in recent weeks. We would ask all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour immediately. The entire neighbourhood policing team has been made aware of this issue, and reports of suspicious activity are being treated as a priority. We cannot stress enough the importance of the community working together and sharing information with police. There are indications that this is linked to organised criminal activity, and we are actively developing intelligence to identify those responsible. Any Ring doorbell footage, CCTV footage, or other video evidence provided by residents is being reviewed and shared with our intelligence teams to support ongoing enquiries.

How to Report Suspicious Activity

If you witness suspicious behaviour, please report it as soon as possible. If a crime is in progress or there is an immediate risk to life or property, call 999 straight away.

For non-emergency incidents, please report via:

101 by phone

The Met Police online reporting service

Directly to your local Safer Neighbourhood Team where appropriate

When reporting, please try to provide:

A description of the person(s) involved, including clothing and distinguishing features.
Vehicle details, including make, model, colour, and registration number.
The exact location, date, and time of the incident.
The direction of travel if persons or vehicles leave the area.
Any CCTV, Ring doorbell, dashcam, or mobile phone footage available.

Please do not put yourself at risk to obtain information or challenge anyone you believe may be involved in criminal activity.

We cannot stress enough how valuable timely reports from residents are. Even if something seems minor, it may provide an important piece of intelligence that helps us identify offenders, link incidents together, and prevent further thefts in the area. Working together as a community gives us the best opportunity to tackle this offending and bring those responsible to justice.

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.