AFTER a recent spate of thefts from motor vehicles in Orange, police are warning residents to take valuables inside because thieves will stop at nothing to gain access to cars.
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On Monday night thieves smashed a quarter panel window in a car in Stibbards Lane and a handbag and wallet was stolen from a car in Warrendine Street.
According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the Orange local government area has the eighth highest rate of stealing from motor vehicles behind Moree Plains, Bogan, Cobar, Narromine, Dubbo, Coonamble and Bourke. There were 550 thefts from motor vehicles in the 12 months to September last year.
Canobolas Local Area Command Inspector Peter Atkins said residents needed to be mindful about what was left in vehicles and take photos of valuables to help officers with recovery of items.
“We’ve had a number of items stolen from motor vehicles including [bar] lights,” Inspector Atkins said.
“People need to be locking vehicles and garaging them if possible.”
He said the command’s property crime analysis unit was making enquiries into the thefts and, in particular, the theft of lightbars from cars.
Inspector Atkins said he was not sure why criminals had targeted those items.
“Maybe they’re easy to steal and to dispose of ... that sort of theft has recently resurfaced,” he said.
An Orange car dealership recently shared photos on social media from CCTV footage showing alleged criminals stealing light bars from cars on the lot. It is alleged the theft happened twice despite the obvious camera visibility.
Inspector Atkins said the most common items stolen from vehicles were tools left in the tray of utilities.
