POLICE officers investigating thefts from vehicles in Bromsgrove believe the thieves may be using some kind of scanning device that can over-ride central locking systems.
Officers from the Bromsgrove South and Rural SNT, who issued the warning, said there were initially concerned drivers were not locking their vehicles properly, but having spoken to many and finding out the majority of vehicles had been locked, they now think the thieves have been using hi-tech gadgets.
Whether or not they can gain entrance to cars depends on whether they can get the right frequency for that particular make and model.
Once inside, glove compartments are being ransacked with the raiders escaping with anything of value – from SatNavs and IT equipment to sunglasses, CDs or loose change.
A police spokesperson said: “We believe this to be a very opportunistic exercise.
“This of course is a tough issue to combat as how else do you deter when you believe your vehicle is secure?
“The advice we are giving to owners is to remove anything and everything from inside your vehicle overnight.
“If there is nothing inside for the perpetrators to take then they have not gained anything and have just wasted their time, you are just left with an unlocked vehicle in the morning as we reiterate there is no damage being caused to the vehicles.”
The Standard reported that at 11pm last Friday (January 22), two men were walking up and down driveways on Fiery Hill Road and Oakdene Road in Barnt Green. Police officers stepped up patrols in the area.
A similar thing also happened on The Oakalls the same night when a man was seen walking up and down driveways.
And on the Wednesday before (January 20) there were some suspicious vehicles seen driving around Reservoir Road, Cofton Hackett early in the morning.
During those incidents – at 7am – suspects were watching residents defrost their vehicles.
A red Transit van and a white Transit van were seen at the time.
Any suspicious incidents should be reported to police on 101.
