Vehicle badge thefts - How you can help

Vehicle badge thefts - How you can help

You raised theft from vehicles as a concern, so here’s a quick local update.

We are aware of an increase in theft from motor vehicle offences where vehicle badges and the sensors are being stolen, and are working hard to identify those responsible.

If you or your neighbour have been a victim of this in the WANDSWORTH area and you have CCTV or a video doorbell, please respond with your address and a contact number and you will be sent a link that will allow you to share you footage with us.

Your assistance in this investigation is appreciated and will help us catch those responsible.

Having personal items stolen from your vehicle is an upsetting experience, and we are determined to find and arrest those who break the law. 

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 it’s 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. 

Remove all items from view by taking them with you or putting them in the boot out of sight. Thieves will look for any items on display. Things like clothes, documents or an old bag might not seem like valuables, but they could still tempt a thief. Ensure you remove all other clues there might be valuables linked to the car, such as phone chargers or sat-nav mounts. 

Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you do not 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.