DETECTIVES from West Mercia Police are urging people to keep reporting suspicious activity after arresting 30 people in the last few months in connection with car-key burglaries across North Worcestershire.
Raiders break into properties and steal car keys before taking vehicles from driveways or outside properties.
Most of the arrests were only made possible, thanks to local intelligence and people promptly contacting the police after witnessing suspicious behaviour.
A lot of the vehicles taken are ‘stolen on demand’ and the force’s Road Policing Teams have been working closely with detectives to identify those potentially driving stolen cars.
Det Sgt Kellie Westwood, who is leading a team of detectives in North Worcestershire on ‘Operation Enzyme’, said the combined effort of the public and the police was vital in combating this type of vehicle crime.
“I want to reassure the public their support, their vigilance and their sense of community is invaluable in our fight to reduce these burglaries.
“We receive tip offs and intelligence all the time from concerned neighbours, from local businesses and from potential victims which we always investigate.
“Local people will see cars and people acting suspiciously and contact us, and thanks to ring doorbells, CCTV and dash-cam recordings we have never been better supplied with witness evidence or evidence-based intelligence.
“People work hard, and these are certainly challenging times however what is clear to me and the detectives working on these cases is that people are looking out for each other and wanting their communities to be safe from these gangs who come into our counties and think they can take what they want, with no reprisals.”
Operation Enzyme will see increased patrols in the coming weeks to target hotspots where car-key burglaries are prevalent, including on the Birmingham / Worcestershire border and sites where vehicles are known to be taken to.
“We have already disrupted and closed three ‘chop shops’ in the last five weeks.”
West Mercia is also working closely with West Midlands Police as part of the operation.
People can call 111 – or 999 if the crime is taking place – to report suspicious behaviour and information can be relayed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Visit westmercia.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/ for vehicle crime prevention advice.
