Car thefts spark police warning

By Callan Date
A RECENT spate of theft from cars in Casey suburbs has police again urging motorists not to leave valuables in their vehicles.
Items were stolen from seven cars in the past fortnight with number plates, cash and laptops among the property stolen.
Car parked in the suburbs of Doveton and Hallam as well as the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre car park are under the most threat from thieves.
The crime spree started in Doveton when three cars were broken into on 19 September with registration plates, a CD player and power tools taken.
On that same night a car parked in Simpson Court, Hallam, had a quantity of cash stolen.
Two days later a vehicle parked at Hallam Train Station had its registration plates removed.
The owner of a blue ’99 Mazda sedan is ruing the decision to leave a laptop computer and GPS device in the car while it was parked at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre on 21 September.
The items, valued at a total of $3100, were stolen after the rear window on the car was smashed sometime between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
Police believe a cunning thief watched a Fountain Gate shopper load an array of goods into her car boot and then return to the centre to continue her shopping on 22 September. About 5.30pm she returned to find the lock on her green Toyota Rav 4 had been broken and several items, including clothing, hair care products and an electric iron had been stolen.
Endeavour Hills Senior Sergeant Russell Patten said the increase in thefts was a timely reminded for motorists to remain vigilant in securing their property.
He said anti-thefts screws, available from hardware retailers, would go a long way to preventing number plates thefts.
“It is really all about common sense,” Sen Sgt Patten said.
“If you leave items on display it is an invitation for someone to break into the car.
“Either conceal the valuables or don’t leave them in the car at all,” he said.