20 July 2011

Don't leave stuff in your cars

| johnboy
Join the conversation
25

ACT Policing is reminding Canberrans not to leave valuables in their cars after a spate of vehicle break-ins at car parks in Lyneham in the past month.

During the past five weeks the Hockey Centre car park has had up to 40 vehicle break-ins. Seven vehicles were broken into at the Netball Centre car park last night (Tuesday, 19 July).

Acting Superintendent Peter Davis said that the break-ins are opportunistic with members of the public leaving their valuables in plain view.

“Unfortunately most of these thefts are due to poor security practices, most of the vehicles hit have valuable items left in plain view. The offenders are targeting property such as wallets, cash and sporting equipment so we urge people to take these items with them when the leave the vehicle.”

There were also a number car break-ins Southside between 2am and 7am this morning (Wednesday, 20 July).

The cars, parked in McLuckie Crescent and Wiburd Street in Banks, had their windows smashed and locks damaged. Although a number of glove boxes were searched by the offenders, no items were reported stolen.

Police are investigating the vehicle break-ins and ask anyone with any information or who has seen suspicious people in the car park to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers website on www.act.crimestoppers.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

Join the conversation

25
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

It sounds like it would be a lot cheaper to just leave your car unlocked?

Of course, taking everything of value out of your car doesn’t stop the sh1tbags as evidenced by the southside breakins referenced in the same article.

p1 said :

I am pretty tempted to take my parts car down the they Lyneham Hockey centre (on a car trailer – engine is stuffed) and leave it with a $50 note on the dash, glued to the biggest rat trap I can find.

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Captain RAAF said :

I reckon an air-rifle equipped sniper positioned on a nearby grassy knoll would be shit-tins of fun and you can just slink away into the night, with the cries of the wounded thieves echoing into the night behind you.

qbngeek said :

I am serious, I was just fitting four-point broadheads to my arrow shafts, fitting the string silencers on my bow and making sure my gillie suit was ready to go for tonight.

People, please. We should let the professionals handle this.

Anyone got the contact details of the contractors who culled the roos around Canberra? This time they ain’t roos, but they’re still ferals that need to be dealt with appropriately.

creative_canberran1:38 pm 21 Jul 11

That’s easier said than done. Thieves are nicking things like airbag assemblies, steering wheels and even centre console fittings according to one dealership.

Classified said :

fgzk said :

Your all talk. Is it the violence that motivates you to take action. If you take the violence out and employ a little technology then you could identify the thieves. Then pass on the proof to the police or crime stoppers. Wireless internet, a camera and net users, could monitor a car park. Offer a small reward and your well on the way to motivating people to contribute to their own security. The same thing could work for illegal dumping.

Umm, I don’t think people are serious, dude!

I am serious, I was just fitting four-point broadheads to my arrow shafts, fitting the string silencers on my bow and making sure my gillie suit was ready to go for tonight.

Are we not going???

fgzk said :

Your all talk. Is it the violence that motivates you to take action. If you take the violence out and employ a little technology then you could identify the thieves. Then pass on the proof to the police or crime stoppers. Wireless internet, a camera and net users, could monitor a car park. Offer a small reward and your well on the way to motivating people to contribute to their own security. The same thing could work for illegal dumping.

Umm, I don’t think people are serious, dude!

Keijidosha said :

Surely if there have been 40 break-ins in the same carpark within 5 weeks it would be worth the police staking the place out in an unmarked car? Just sayin’.

+1 to that. It does seem a bit crazy that it’s even possible for them to re-offend in the same area SO many times in such a short period! You know where they are, you know what they’re doing, what is stopping you from catching them in the act?

Obviously it is not smart to leave goods on display – but it does seem mad to me that they haven’t been caught yet! They’re not exactly criminal masterminds, are they?

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them

In the US, theyre called ‘Bait Cars’. In Australia, the police call it ‘boring work with little financial gain’. Mind you, neither would beat the perpertrator up, theyd simply arrest them, and chuck em in jail in the US, or slap em on the wrist over here.

Ive always wondered why bait cars have never been employed in Canberra.. you’d sure see the number of car breakins drop if people thought the police might be using bait cars.

Your all talk. Is it the violence that motivates you to take action. If you take the violence out and employ a little technology then you could identify the thieves. Then pass on the proof to the police or crime stoppers. Wireless internet, a camera and net users, could monitor a car park. Offer a small reward and your well on the way to motivating people to contribute to their own security. The same thing could work for illegal dumping.

Captain RAAF said :

Stevian said :

00davist said :

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Hmmm…

I’m in!

You’d get more for assault, than they would for attempted theft, and then there’s the civil action they could take against you (and win). Works for me

More for assault? Who said anything about getting caught?

I reckon an air-rifle equipped sniper positioned on a nearby grassy knoll would be shit-tins of fun and you can just slink away into the night, with the cries of the wounded thieves echoing into the night behind you.

Now, this I like!

Captain RAAF10:11 am 21 Jul 11

Stevian said :

00davist said :

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Hmmm…

I’m in!

You’d get more for assault, than they would for attempted theft, and then there’s the civil action they could take against you (and win). Works for me

More for assault? Who said anything about getting caught?

I reckon an air-rifle equipped sniper positioned on a nearby grassy knoll would be shit-tins of fun and you can just slink away into the night, with the cries of the wounded thieves echoing into the night behind you.

Inappropriate said :

This is just blaming the victim! Lets organise an “Idiot-Walk” to protest that the police are blaming us Idiots for leaving valuables in plain sight in our cars, under the veil of “helpful advice”.

Absolutely. And we’ll be sure to park our cars in Dickson weith cash on the dashboard while we do it.

00davist said :

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Hmmm…

I’m in!

You’d get more for assault, than they would for attempted theft, and then there’s the civil action they could take against you (and win). Works for me

Inappropriate9:52 am 21 Jul 11

This is just blaming the victim! Lets organise an “Idiot-Walk” to protest that the police are blaming us Idiots for leaving valuables in plain sight in our cars, under the veil of “helpful advice”.

Surely if there have been 40 break-ins in the same carpark within 5 weeks it would be worth the police staking the place out in an unmarked car? Just sayin’.

00davist said :

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Hmmm…

I’m in!

Not very nice, but probably more effective than current efforts…

milkman said :

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Hmmm…

I’m in!

Perhaps we could get an old junker, leave a handbag in the front seat, then sit quietly in the bushes until someone broke the window. Then we could beat 3 shades of shit out of them.

Hmmm…

alaninoz said :

How about people being responsible for taking some minimal care for their own property?

completly agree.

JC said :

Maybe if the ACT government actually finished the new hockey centre carpark by installing the street lights it might make it less of a target..

Lights do shit all. Dickson carparking station at ANU regularly gets broken into, even though it has cameras, motion censors, sliding gates, and patrolling “security”

JC said :

Maybe if the ACT government actually finished the new hockey centre carpark by installing the street lights it might make it less of a target.

How about people being responsible for taking some minimal care for their own property?

JC said :

Apparently the government cannot put the carpark lights in place until the new road through the wetlands towards the netball centre is finished and expects Hockey ACT to pay for temporary lighting.

How about Hockey ACT takes its hand out of the taxpayers pocket? Nothing against Hockey ACT, mind. I’m sure it’s a worthy organisation trying to make a contribution to the community. I’m just tired of the taxpayer always being expected to pay.

It’s really upsetting to see all the smashed glass on the ground whenever I take my kids to the centre for their hockey games, we’re lucky to have not had our car broken into as yet…although some @#%^ wad ripped off my rear windscreen wiper blade from the car park a few weeks ago (and I have to source wreckers or the dealer to find a replacement part, thanks so much, another expense I really can do without).

It may be time for a whip round to pay for a security guard to patrol at night. Whilst they’re at it they could do something to the kneecaps of the people who park in disabled spots without a permit…and the idiots who think they’re above everyone else and think they can double park and take up half the parking lot to everyone else’s inconvenience.

It’s more of a shame when people pay a fair bit of money to participate in a sport to stay active and socialise, to have their trip to the centre ruined by this sort of thing.

Though at least some of the breakins have occured in the old section of carpark, which never had lighting anyway…..

Maybe if the ACT government actually finished the new hockey centre carpark by installing the street lights it might make it less of a target. Apparently the government cannot put the carpark lights in place until the new road through the wetlands towards the netball centre is finished and expects Hockey ACT to pay for temporary lighting.

I am pretty tempted to take my parts car down the they Lyneham Hockey centre (on a car trailer – engine is stuffed) and leave it with a $50 note on the dash, glued to the biggest rat trap I can find.

Ok, so don’t park in the Hockey Centre car park in Lyneham, gotcha! Thanks.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.