Police advice after spate of thefts from unsecured cars, Teesdale Mercury

BARNARD Castle Police are urging motorists to take more caution after a spate of thefts from unsecure vehicles over recent weeks. 

Sgt Chris Knox said that there had been several thefts of, and from, unlocked Land Rovers in Teesdale, North Yorkshire and Cumbria in the past two weeks. 

“In all cases the keys had been left in the ignition and we are working hard with the other three forces to gain evidence and find the team responsible.

“The message is for people not to become easy targets,” he said. 

“Ensure vehicles are locked and secure and the keys are also in a secure location – don’t become a victim of a two-in-one theft.”

A two-in-one theft is where thieves enter a property and remove vehicle keys and Sgt Knox also warned people not to leave keys in an ‘obvious’ place and on view.

Drivers are also being warned they need to remember to lock their vehicles when they park up to go into a shop. 

Two of the recent crimes took place in daylight and Sgt Knox said if anyone sees anything suspicious they should call 999. 

In the first of a trio of crimes, a Land Rover was stolen from Staindrop last Friday lunchtime. 

The Defender model was left unattended with the keys in the ignition at a farm in the village and was taken at about 12.15pm. 

Around the same time, a purse was stolen from an unattended Land Rover in the Mickleton area. 

And overnight between Friday evening and Saturday morning a Wacker plate compactor and a black and yellow Makita drill were taken from an unlocked tractor in the Hutton Magna area.  

Sgt Knox said that most modern vehicles could not easily be accessed if they are locked properly and also earned that insurance companies often won’t pay out if vehicles have been left unlocked. 

Anyone with any information, or who believes they saw something suspicious around the times of the thefts, can call Barnard Castle Police on 0345 6060 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.