CommunitySafe.gov.uk

DRIVE OUT VEHICLE CRIME Dear residents, In an effort to combat vehicle crime, Merton Borough Police in conjunction with Safer Merton are launching a ‘Drive Out Vehicle Crime’ initiative which will include a number of partnership interventions throughout the year. The first of which is to provide a property marking service for those living within the Borough. At this time of year, many people will have received sat navs for Christmas; these items are often left inside vehicles and provide thieves with an opportunity to steal. Inspector Jim COOK from Merton Police said, “Vehicle crime is the one of the highest crime types in the Borough and a number of Safer Neighbourhood Teams have had vehicle crime reduction chosen by their ward Panels to work. We will be looking to raise the public’s awareness and offering advice on how they can help us reduce the incidence of vehicle crime. Over the coming weeks and months Merton Police will be carrying out a number of proactive operations against those involved in vehicle crime. Already the Safer Neighbourhood Teams conduct a large number of Automatic Number Plate Operations and will continue these with both uniform and plain clothes patrols in areas where vehicle crime is most prevalent”. We take this opportunity to remind you all to: Ensure cars are locked – this might seem simple but a high percentage of cars are left unlocked in Merton. Don’t leave anything on view – you may know your jacket is empty but an opportunist thief doesn’t. Take your sat nav out of your vehicle and clean the suction mark off the windscreen – thieves will smash your window just to check the glove box. In a previous ‘Community Safe’ message, I informed you of a bike and property marking day, scheduled to take place on Saturday 9th January 2010. Why not utilise the property marking day to bring your sat navs along to Action Bikes, Broadway SW19? The team will be happy to security mark your sat navs free of charge. If you are unable to attend, please contact the team to arrange an alternative date, time and place to suit you, when we can attend and security mark your property, in particular, your sat navs. For any further information please contact your local Abbey Safer Neighbourhood Team. Regards, Emma Gardiner PS18VW 0208 6493584 abbey@met.police.uk