Police ask public to be vigilant after vehicle break ins and thefts in Torbay

Devon & Cornwall Police are asking the public to be vigilant and take precautions to keep their vehicles safe after receiving reports of numerous vehicle break ins and thefts across Torbay.

Police have received reports of belongings being stolen from vehicles during the evenings and late nights, such as wallets and bags. There have also been reports of hanoi burglaries, which involve offenders breaking into a home to steal keys to vehicles.

Police Sergeant Ed Thomas, said: “Our officers are taking a robust approach in response to these reports to keep our communities safe. We have currently arrested two people in relation to a burglary. While enquiries are ongoing, we will be stepping up our patrols and visibility across Torbay to continue to identify offenders committing these crimes and deter them from doing so.

“We also know what a difference our presence can have on helping make communities feel safer, which is another reason why we’re making sure we’re visible.”

By following these steps, you can make it harder for criminals to target you and your property:

• Keep windows closed and doors locked, both in your house and vehicle
• Keep your keys away from the front door and store them out of sight
• Do not leave items or valuables in plain sight in your vehicle, even spare change or a coat can entice an opportune criminal
• If you have one, park your vehicle in a locked garage
• If you park on a street, always try and park near street lights where possible
• If you have multiple vehicles, try to block them in with each other
• Try not to post on social media that you’re away or on holiday – don’t advertise an empty home!

“We’d like to urge the public, no matter where you live, to take these simple steps to protect your property,” PS Thomas added, “we know that having something stolen, especially something like a car, is a devastating thing to go through - it can be both hugely expensive and also have a negative impact on people’s livelihoods. So please, do what you can to protect your vehicles, and our police officers will do the rest to identify people committing these crimes.

“If you have any information or footage that may assist investigating officers, please submit a report to us. Your information might just be the missing piece we need.”

Always to remember to lock your vehicle, remove any valuables and keep your keys safe. Visit our website for handy tips and guidance about how to keep your vehicle safe.

You can report crime and intelligence directly on the Devon & Cornwall website or by calling 101. If a crime is happening, call 999.

Information can also be passed completely anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers, just call 0800 555111, or via their website.