Don’t give thieves a break

The campaign aims to reduce property stolen out of vehicles locally by educating the community on how to safely secure cars and valuables.

Cootamundra Local Area Command (LAC) Crime Prevention Officer Senior Constable Peter Guthrie said police officers are finding too many cars left unlocked or with windows down during recent foot patrols.

"We are walking the streets putting magnets next to the driver's door handles if we find their car is unsecured," he said.

"Hopefully they will go home and put the magnet on their fridge which will be a daily reminder to not leave their car unlocked."

Senior Constable Guthrie said leaving a car unsecured for any length of time can attract a fine.

"We are not handing out tickets, though," he said.  

“This is not an exercise in sending out tickets it is about raising awareness of opportunist crime.

"If we can see the car is unlocked and there is an iPhone or iPad in plain sight, then criminals can also see it, it only takes seconds and your valuables are gone. 

“This is just to try to make people aware there are people out there who can and will take the opportunity to steal something they want, need or can sell.” 

Senior Constable Guthrie said in the first few weeks of the year there had been "heaps" of reports of thefts from vehicles in Young and Cootamundra.

Phones, MP3 players, wallets, GPS systems and CDs were the most often stolen items.

He said it was important for people to make a habit of locking their vehicles, even outside their properties.

"Some thefts had occurred while vehicles were parked in driveways overnight," Senior Constable Guthrie said.

Senior Constable Guthrie said often people left their vehicles unlocked while ducking in quickly to a shop, thinking it was safe, but it didn’t take long for thieves to take their valuables. 

Police want to remind drivers: “if it can be seen, it can be stolen.”