100 vehicles targeted in month of Walsall break-ins
More than 100 vehicles have been raided across Walsall in the space of just a month, with sat navs and number plates being stolen.
An average of three cars have been targeted per day across the borough.
Sat navs and number plates have also accounted for almost 80 per cent of items stolen from vehicles in the Walsall area during the past year, police have revealed.
Officers are now warning motorists to stay vigilant against car thieves following the spate of thefts, which has seen a total of 105 vehicles targeted.
Drivers are urged to make sure their vehicles are left secure and to take out expensive items such as sat navs, laptops, sunglasses and cash.
Police have also stepped up uniformed and plain clothed patrols in hotspot areas in a bid to crack down on car crime.
Ch Insp Mike O'Hara, from Walsall police, said: "I would remind people to remove all valuables particularly sat navs from display.
"That means taking them out of glove boxes, as that's the first place thieves look, and wiping suction marks off windscreens.
"I would also urge drivers to consider adding tamper proof screws to number plates.
"It takes a matter of minutes, but once fitted you can have peace of mind that plates will snap if criminals try to steal them."
Local neighbourhood officers have also been handing out crime prevention advice to motorists in vehicle crime hotspots.
Sat nav owners are encouraged to mark their device with their postcode or vehicle registration number using special security UV markers, and to make a note of the name, make, model and serial number on www.immobilise.com
It comes after there were a spate of thefts from cars across Walsall earlier this year.
Inside a week in April there were at least seven thefts with sat navs and possessions taken from glove boxes, one attempted break-in and a house burglary.
They mainly occurred around Brownhills and police stepped up patrols in the area.
A burglary in Middleton Road saw thieves get into a property through an unlocked patio door and take three mountain bikes to the value of £6,000.
Vehicle crimes took place in Rose Drive, Catshill Road, Silver Court and High Street, Brownhills. While there were others in Pelsall Lane, Rushall, Badgers Close, Pelsall and Horseshoe Crescent, Pheasey.
Members of the public are urged to call police if they see anything suspicious on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
