Yarra police want to remind residents to remove valuables from cars and ensure they are locked, following a spate of recent incidents involving opportunistic thieves.
More than 40% of cars broken into over the last three months had no signs of forced entry, while the large majority of cars forcefully broken into had valuables in plain sight.
Police have also seen several instances where residents have left expensive and sentimental items in their vehicles – right in the sights of opportunities thieves.
This includes wallets, phones, laptops, and large amounts of cash.
While police work around the clock to identify offenders and return stolen items, simple measures like removing valuables and locking vehicles can deter thieves.
Only last month, police arrested a man for alleged thefts across Fitzroy, Richmond, Collingwood and Abbotsford this month.
Ironically, officers from the Yarra Neighbourhood Policing Team were in the process of putting crime prevention pamphlets on parked cars when they came across him on the street.
The arrest followed a report three days earlier, where a victim had his car windows smashed and wallet stolen from outside a Richmond address.
The card was then used multiple times at a nearby convenience store.
Earlier in the month, another man returned to his parked car in Collingwood on 4 October and found both his rear windows smashed.
His bank card, $550 in cash and driver’s license was stolen.
His card was also used at multiple convenience stores and fast food outlets.
The 34-year-old man, arrested on 22 October, was charged with multiple counts of theft, obtain property by deception, resist emergency worker on duty and commit indictable offence while on bail.
He was remanded to appear before the Collingwood Neighbourhood Justice Centre on 3 November.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour around parked vehicles should report it to police via Triple Zero (000).
For any non-urgent reports call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
Quotes attributable to Yarra Local Area Commander Acting Inspector Ashley Ford:
“Inner city living means most residents rely heavily on street parking in high foot traffic areas.
“Unfortunately, opportunistic thieves will take advantage of this if valuables are in plain sight or cars are unlocked.
“These offences can so easily be avoided if drivers simply remove anything they wouldn’t want stolen from the vehicle, and ensure it is locked at all times.
“We regularly conduct foot and vehicle patrols to detect and deter offending however it’s important that everyone in the community plays their part.
“The majority of crimes occur through opportunity and if there’s less opportunity for an offender to commit a crime it’s less likely to occur.”
