8/7/2008Warning as thieves home in on sat navs
POLICE today warned drivers to hide hi-tech satellite navigation equipment from view after a spate of thefts in the East End of Glasgow.
Thieves have been targeting cars and vans parked in Shettleston, Baillieston and Easterhouse over the last few weeks.
Officers have urged vehicle owners to hide the gadgets or remove them completely.
The warning comes after several cars were broken into for their TomTom satnav screens.
Community Safety Sergeant Jane Harley, based at Shettleston police office, said: “By taking the time to at least remove portable equipment from sight can often save a substantial loss to the owners.
“We would advise owners to ensure that all doors, windows and sunroofs are closed and locked.
“As well as removing the satnav system, we would also advise removing the suction mounted fitting from the windscreen as this gives potential thieves a strong indication that the car has a satnav device inside the vehicle.”
The warning comes just months after the Evening Times revealed thieves were targeting football fans and city centre commuters to steal satnav systems.
There was a 155% increase in offences in seven streets around Ibrox Stadium last year.
According to the figures obtained by the Evening Times, the pattern was repeated for much of the Govan and Ibrox area, with matchdays providing rich pickings for car criminals.
Streets around Celtic Park also saw a sharp increases in thefts.
Figures for five police beats near Ibrox Stadium saw 49 car crimes in 2005/06 rising to 125 in 2006/07 – up 155%. There was a rise from 52 to 109 crimes on the beat around Cessnock Subway station.
On a police beat covering the Eastern Necropolis, part of the Gallowgate and the Forge car park, car crime rose from eight offences in 2005/06 to 45 in the next year.
Thieves have been targeting cars and vans parked in Shettleston, Baillieston and Easterhouse over the last few weeks.
Officers have urged vehicle owners to hide the gadgets or remove them completely.
The warning comes after several cars were broken into for their TomTom satnav screens.
Community Safety Sergeant Jane Harley, based at Shettleston police office, said: “By taking the time to at least remove portable equipment from sight can often save a substantial loss to the owners.
“We would advise owners to ensure that all doors, windows and sunroofs are closed and locked.
“As well as removing the satnav system, we would also advise removing the suction mounted fitting from the windscreen as this gives potential thieves a strong indication that the car has a satnav device inside the vehicle.”
The warning comes just months after the Evening Times revealed thieves were targeting football fans and city centre commuters to steal satnav systems.
There was a 155% increase in offences in seven streets around Ibrox Stadium last year.
According to the figures obtained by the Evening Times, the pattern was repeated for much of the Govan and Ibrox area, with matchdays providing rich pickings for car criminals.
Streets around Celtic Park also saw a sharp increases in thefts.
Figures for five police beats near Ibrox Stadium saw 49 car crimes in 2005/06 rising to 125 in 2006/07 – up 155%. There was a rise from 52 to 109 crimes on the beat around Cessnock Subway station.
On a police beat covering the Eastern Necropolis, part of the Gallowgate and the Forge car park, car crime rose from eight offences in 2005/06 to 45 in the next year.