Police are urging motorists to “look, lock, leave” before stepping away from their vehicles following a recent spike in thefts.
High and rising rates of theft from motor vehicles across Brimbank and Melton are a top concern for police, says crime prevention officer Leading Senior Constable Matt Mudie.
Leading Senior Constable Mudie said it was easy for motorists to prevent falling victim to the crime by simply locking up.
He warned motorists not to get complacent especially around the home and when leaving cars in the driveway.
Cars were also targeted at school drop-off sites and at petrol stations. “Often it’s opportunistic theft that happens very quickly,” he said. “Always lock your car when you’re not with your vehicle.”
Part of the look, lock, leave campaign is reminding motorists to not only lock up but also look into their cars to ensure no valuables are left behind, or visible.
“People are still leaving GPS [units] on their consoles and forgetting their wallets and purses,” Leading Senior Constable Mudie said.
Police recently teamed up with the Melton CFA to help spread the message at railway stations – another hotspot for theft. The CFA’S variable sign boards were used to display crime prevention messages to remind people to lock up, resulting in a significant reduction of thefts for that period.
