Car crime in York soars (From York Press)

Car crime in York soars

10:10am Wednesday 25th October 2006 in News By Gavin Aitchison, gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

CAR crime in York is at its highest level in three years, with the number of offences rocketing by nearly 600 per cent in just three months.

Shocking new figures obtained by The Press show more than 11 vehicle offences are now committed in the city every day on average.

The statistics, released under the Freedom of Information Act, reveal there were 335 vehicle break-ins or thefts in the city last month, and 339 in August - the highest since October 2003. That compares to 211 in June.

The increase comes despite York Police launching a special offensive last year to combat the problem.

Operation Cobra, which began in April 2005, initially led to a reduction in offences, but crime rates are now higher than when the operation started.

The steepest rise has been in Huntington and New Earswick, where offences have increased by 560 per cent in three months. There were five offences in June, rising to 33 last month.

A police dispersal zone was set up in the area in April, but despite an overall reduction in crime, vehicle offences have soared.

Offences in council leader Steve Galloway's ward Westfield rose by 300 per cent in the three months. There were 11 vehicles stolen there last month - more than anywhere else in the city.

There were also increases of 300 per cent in Heworth Without; 200 per cent in Clifton; 135 per cent in Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without; and 100 per cent in Fishergate.

Overall, Clifton was the most targeted area last month, with 39 offences recorded.

Inspector Colin Moreton, who spearheads Operation Cobra, attributed the increases to the rise in thefts of satellite navigation equipment.

He said: "There is a massive increase in the amount of thefts of satellite navigation equipment from vehicles.

"It's not necessarily the devices themselves, but any associated bits and pieces, like chargers.

"If a criminal sees them, they will smash the window and check the glove box.

"Even if you take the sat-nav out, you should not leave the bits and pieces about. We also still get reports of lap-tops being left in vehicles on display.

"In terms of what we are doing, we continue to target offenders to get them to court. Also we are targeting hot-spots - areas that are not lit, and car parks."

On Operation Cobra, Insp Moreton said: "It's an ongoing process. You get people, put them in prison and it dies down for a period of time, then starts off again.

"It will never stop because of the ease with which people can break into a car.

"Part of Operation Cobra is the crime prevention message. It's not just offenders - it's the educating the public as well."

Huntington and New Earswick councillor Carol Runciman said the rise was concerning but could be partly due to residents reporting incidents more readily, after she and fellow councillors urged them to do so.

She said: "I would say at least part of that increase would be because the message has finally got out that people have got to ring the police."

Coun Runciman also said she believed most of the offences would have occurred outside the dispersal zone boundary.

On the Westfield rise, Coun Galloway said: "Any increase in crime is to be regretted, albeit seasonal factors need to be taken into account, while crimes of this sort are often attributable to one or two prolific offenders. Quoting percentage increases, when considering small volumes, can also give a misleading picture.

"However, we are having a meeting of the Westfield Joint Liaison Committee on Friday when we will be receiving a report on crime trends in the ward and will be discussing, with the police and the Safer York Partnership, how we can address issues in the ward. The council has made money available once again this year for "target hardening" works - for example improved street lighting - and earlier in the year there was a significant investment in providing off road parking spaces in streets like Tudor Road, Cornlands Road and Foxwood Lane."

Clampdown on sat nav thieves

CRIME prevention officers have launched a special drive to clamp down on sat nav thefts.

Operation Cuirass aims to alert motorists to the crime and advise them to how to minimise the risk.

A number of strategies have been implemented as part of the drive: Warnings have been displayed at entrances to the city, stating "Don't Lose Your Sat Nav to car thieves".

Crime prevention messages will be displayed on the peel-off section of "pay and display" tickets from December to January.

A Home Office satellite navigation crime-prevention leaflet is being included in all auto crime prevention packs, and with residents parking permits.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams are to distribute crime prevention information through vehicle accessory retailers.

Clifton Moor retail park is to display crime prevention advice.

Trading Standards officers are to regularly trawl ebay for York Traders.

Carole Patrick, of Safer York Partnership, said she thought some of the recent increase would be due to seasonal factors.

She said: "There are simply more cars and more people around in August due to tourist traffic and school holidays."

* The Press recently reported the shocking case of a 13-year-old boy, who admitted making a living out of stealing satellite navigation systems.

The teenager made the shocking admission to police, after snatching an appliance, along with a handbag, at York Racecourse earlier this month.

The Press reported 40 devices were being stolen in the city each month, but police said motorists had only themselves to blame.

Insurance premiums rocket

IN May, we revealed police had invested heavily in combating car crime in one York street - only to see it increase.

Ratcliffe Street in Clifton was made a "top target zone" after there were 111 vehicle offences there in 2004-05.

Police ploughed resources into the area with the aim of reducing car crime by 15 per cent. But instead, it soared by 22.5 per cent, to 136 crimes.

An investigation by The Press also revealed residents living in the troubled road were having to fork out up to £100 more than those in neighbouring streets, because the problem of auto-crime was so bad.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw said the problems were partly due to the number of alleyways in Ratcliffe Street, and also because people left their cars there to go to York Hospital or the city centre.