Islanders are being urged not to leave valuables in their vehicles
THE police are urging Islanders not to leave valuables in their cars after a spate of smash-and-grab thefts from vehicles across the Island.
Twenty-nine vehicles have been broken into during the last three weeks, with 13 of the incidents being reported this week.
Most of the thefts occurred on Monday night, when cars were targeted in Upper Midvale Road, Rue de Haut in St Lawrence, Duhamel Place, Old Trinity Hill, Richmond Road, Tower Road, Highlands Lane and Bagatelle Road. Car windows were broken to steal the items, which included handbags, purses, iPods and laptops.
Det Con Jeremy House, crime reduction officer for the States police, urged Islanders not to leave valuables in their cars.
Article posted on 25th November, 2009 - 2.59pm
12 Article Comments
Will people never learn ?
We all know we should be able to leave anything on show and expect it to be safe.
BUT this is the real world we live in and we have to take some responsibility for the safety of our possessions.
Report abuse
Would it not be prudent to urge the police to stop the cars being broken into in the first place? I understand that we can’t have a police person on every street and that it is not a good idea to leave anything of value on display for all however the locations mentioned in article above are not exactly remote!
Report abuse
He he he ha ha ha, I was reading the above article and before I scanned down I thought how many mails are going to blame the Police – he he he there is always one!!!! and probably more to follow!!!! Your car like your kids……….it is your responsibility!!! Oh yes lets be prudent to urge the Police to stop vandals braking into the cars in the first place – some times I wonder if people actually think before they type? I for one would not do the job the Police do and all the rubbish they have to put up with – a few broken into cars and “oh yes lets blame the Police”……….and a few major drug criminlas taken out of their evil empire and network and prevent untold damage on our/YOUR Island……and its absolutely nothing positive to say for the Police or even “oh yes lets focus on what did the Police do wrong” to catch these evil criminals – get real!!!!
Report abuse
Not surprised at Richmond road as it must be one of, if not the darkest streets in St Helier. you need a torch to make sure you dont stand in some lazy persons dogs poo!
Its a shame they didnt steal the cars that have been parked there for so long even the birds dont bother to poo on them anymore!
Report abuse
3. I don’t think positive results should be commended when it is your line of work isn’t this what your paid to do? Might be different if the Police consisted of voluntary workers.
I do have a slight personal issue which may be clouding my judgement however when I am told by the Police themselves “I should consider parking somewhere more secure in future” after my own vehicle was vandalised in a well lit town car park with what I stupidly presumed were working CCTV cameras all round I wonder what the next step I should take is!
Perhaps it is my responsibility to have someone patrol any area I decide to leave my property, Oh no! Hang on! Isn’t that what we pay our taxes for?
Yes you are right, we cannot expect to catch every petty minded criminal however, with “a few cars” as you say (twenty-nine quoted in above article) broken into during the last three weeks you would think that perhaps it might be worth throwing some resource at even if just to deter the current offenders!
Lets all “Get Real!” here and stop Jersey turning into a vandal & petty criminal heaven. If your argument is that the Police is under funded and therefore cannot do this job because there are ‘bigger fish’ to catch then let’s discuss that rather than worrying so much that someone’s view that these disgusting crimes should not be allowed to continue is so radically obscene.
I would like to see you explain to the person who has just had their handbag (or stereo or what ever these reprobates take these days) “Sorry but the Police were too busy catching ‘real criminals’ to be around to protect your quite frankly unimportant property… Let’s face it, it’s barely even a crime.”
Report abuse
JP – Are you sure you have the right place? Richmond Road (La Pouquelaye) has street lights. One side of the road is residents parking with the other being a 3 hour limit, which is checked on a regular basis by the parish warden. So you can’t really leave your car there.
Report abuse
GMR #
I certainly don’t think its as funny as S le maistre # 2 appears to think, but the article clearly states,
Car windows were broken to steal the items, which included handbags, purses, iPods and laptops.
To leave items such as these on show in an unattended vehicle is temptation too much for some lesser members of our society.
It is lazy and basically attracts the behaviour one gets.
Perhaps you could suggest a method that is acceptable in manpower and financial cost that our police could employ, one that would be more effective than just putting your valuables in the boot?.
I can feel that ten ton weight dropping on my head as I say this.
Have you considered joining the Honorary police, I am sure your assistance in beating this problem would be appreciated island wide and give you some insight into why you were told “I should consider parking somewhere more secure in future”
Report abuse
1. PJG
Clearly this is a matter for the Honorary Police to deal with.
After all, it has absolutely nothing else to justify its existence.
Report abuse
People who leave their “handbags, purses, iPods and laptops” on display in their cars deserve to be robbed.
It would cure them of their innate stupidity.
Report abuse
LaPouquelaye #8
I just knew that comment would end up with all the usual bigots crawling out of the woodwork
Report abuse
S le maistre & Son of PJG should start their own comedy club cause they must be having a laugh! Don’t whatever you do leave your car parked by their houses, by the sounds of it they will put the window in to teach you a lesson!
Report abuse
Well, PJG, you are quite right!
The honorary police do a particular job free of charge.
It is all very well for people to be moaning about them. Why not join if you feel that way?
I think that it takes guts to challenge wrongdoers and it can’t be very enjoyable standing about supervising events and roadchecks, again free of charge.
Like any police force, it has its faults. But, if you want to make a difference, just join! I am sure that the parish would be delighted to hear from any interested parties.
Report abuse