Orange has seen an increase in thefts from unlocked cars in recent years and police are embarking on a prevention campaign in a bid to drive it down.
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The rise in thefts from cars and other motor vehicles across the Central West and in the Orange local government area was made clear in the latest quarterly report issued by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BoCSAR).
Now officers from the Central West Police District are launching the 'Lock it or Lose it' NSW Police Force prevention initiative.
Orange Police Station officer in charge Chief Inspector Peter Atkins announced the campaign.
"The focus of the Lock it or Lose it campaign is to provide the community with a range of preventative measures which make it more difficult for offenders to steal from your homes, sheds or vehicles," Chief Inspector Atkins said.
"The measures may seem obvious but are not always put in place which unfortunately makes it easy for the opportunistic thief."
According to the BoCSAR report, property offences in the Central West increased by 6.3 per cent in the two years to March 2022.
Specifically, there was a 27.7 per cent increase in reported thefts from motor vehicles in the Central West in that same period. There was also a 13.5 per cent increase in motor vehicles being reported stolen.
In Orange that figure was a 64.9 per cent increase in stealing from motor vehicles and a 40.8 per cent rise in reported motor vehicle thefts.
- READ ALSO: Most dangerous roads in Orange revealed
In the 12 months to March this year there were 1041 reports of thefts from cars, many of which were reportedly unlocked, and 437 cars were reported stolen from the Central West region.
In Orange for that period items were reported stolen from 338 motor vehicles and 145 motor vehicles were reported stolen.
NSW Police suggest people ensure their premises are always locked and secure when absent, even for a short time.
Police also recommend people install CCTV and recording equipment as a cost effective preventative measure and powerful investigative tool.
Other tips include:
- Keep a detailed and up to date property inventory. Be sure to record any serial numbers and/or identifying markers or unique characteristics of the property.
- Ensure trees and shrubs can't be used as hiding places, security lights cover main areas around premises, fences are sturdy and gates have keylocks.
- Sheds or external storage areas have keylocks and make sure your tools, gardening equipment, ladders are locked away
- Secure your letter boxes and adopt safer methods of parcel delivery
- Ensure vehicles are always locked, no items of value are left in vehicles (or are not visible if they must be), garage remotes are secured or removed from the vehicle
- Stop car thefts before they happen. Don't leave garage remotes in your car - try keeping it on your keyring instead so you can keep an eye on it at all times
- Store car keys out of view from external doors and windows, and don't leave your keys in obvious places such as key hooks or in a bowl near the door.
- Keep an eye on your neighbours house if they are away.
NSW Police can provide assistance in the form of home/business security audits in addition to the measures provided.
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