Rushcliffe Police warn that several incidents of car crime were reported in Ruddington overnight on Monday 2nd April and Tuesday 3rd April.
A green Honda Accord was stolen from outside premises on Camelot Street sometime between 7pm and 7am. Also a White Hyundai was broken into by “unknown means” and a Dell laptop was stolen from inside – whilst a Mercedes parked on Wilford Road was entered but nothing was stolen.
Officers advise: “Please be aware of the above incidents and remember to remove any items of value from your vehicles when parking them AND check that your vehicle is locked correctly.”
It seems that modern, keyless entry technology may be assisting the crooks. One Ruddington resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says: “On Monday night my car was broken into. My neighbours cars were also broken into. They broke in by using some sort of remote transmitter. The car looked like I had left it unlocked. The police have advised to put car keys in a metal tin or a foil lined envelope. If anyone has had their car broken into in this manner please inform the police as this will help them.” *PLEASE SEE UPDATE BELOW.
So – if you saw anything suspicious – or may have captured CCTV footage that could help – you’re asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident 294-30042018. Or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
UPDATE 5th April 2018:
Unfortunately the Police appeals over the past few weeks don’t quite tell the full story – as revealed by Ruddington’s full crime figures for March, released today.
For the period from 1st March – 31st March 2018, in chronological order, the incidents were:-
2nd Shed broken into – over a four week period on Rufford Road and tools taken.
4th Drive-off – from Ruddington Service Station.
4th Criminal Damage – Pink paint sprayed over the bonnet of a car on Leys Road.
6th Theft – Both number plates stolen from a vehicle parked on Easthorpe Street.
6th Criminal damage – to a vehicle parked in the co-op car park with deep scratches on all panels.
8th Theft – of a parcel from a porch in Bradbury Gardens.
9th Criminal damage – to a car in Ling Crescent with deep scratches to side panels.
13th Burglary on Musters Road and a car stolen. But the vehicle WAS recovered and a suspect identified for the offence.
21st Criminal damage – to a car Elms Park with deep scratches to the bodywork.
23rd Theft of cash – from till in a shop on Church Street.
27th Theft of a laptop – from a vehicle parked on Easthorpe Street
27th Robbery Loughborough Road – items stolen from male walking alone. But two suspects were arrested and charged with the offence on the night.
So it would seem that remaining vigilant and taking crime prevention measures should be our priorities in Ruddington at the moment!
*UPDATE 6th April 2018:
Local police are confirming that they suspect some vehicles may have been accessed and/or stolen using a method known as “Relay Car Theft” (see illustration below).
They recommend the following advice and guidance if you own a keyless entry vehicle:-
- Contact your dealer and talk about the digital features in your car. Have there been any software updates you can take advantage of?
- Check if your keyless entry fob can be turned off. If it can, and your dealer can also confirm this, then do so overnight.
- Store your keys away from household entry points. Keeping your keyless entry fob out of sight is not enough – thieves only need to gain proximity to the key to amplify the signal.
- Be vigilant. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity in your neighbourhood – and report anything unusual to the Police.
- Review your car security. Check for aftermarket security devices such as mechanical locks and trackers, which are proven to deter thieves.
{TOP IMAGE courtesy of Google Maps}
