Brixton police warn on the rise of car thefts
BRIXTON – Toyota Yaris owners warned to be vigilant and careful.
Brixton Police Station has come out and warned motorists, car owners and the public in general that theft of motor vehicles is on the rise. A spokesperson for the station Jeanette Backhoff said the increase is currently experienced throughout their precinct, which includes the suburbs of Auckland Park, Melville, Mayfair and surrounding areas. “Most of the vehicles that are stolen are parked outside the yard. The vehicles that are mostly stolen are the Toyota Yaris.”
Backhoff has encouraged the public to be vigilant and careful during these times. “Members in our community are requested to play their part in looking after their property. Through the interviews we had with victims of theft of motor vehicle it has become clear that owners park their vehicles outside their properties or homes for a few minutes only to return and find their cars gone.”
She reminds the community to avoid leaving their vehicles parked on the street and to rather park it in a yard or a properly secured parking area. She added that cars can be stolen within seconds so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
As police attend to their strategies to reduce theft of motor vehicles in the area, they have shared the following safety tips to help to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of this crime:
- Do not park your vehicle where no security officers are stationed to guard other vehicles.
- Make sure that all the doors and windows are properly locked when you park your vehicle.
- Valuable items, like a laptop and a camera, must be locked in the boot of your vehicle.
- Lock your valuables in the vehicle’s boot before departure.
- At night, park in well-lit areas.
- Store luggage in the vehicle’s boot where it is out of sight.
- Do not leave your handbag/briefcase visible in the vehicle.
- Remove detachable radios and the radios front part (face) when getting out of the vehicle.
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