I normally like to write out a WMnow update with good news and a report on what your local Rurals team have been up to however I’d like to bring to your attention a sudden and sharp rise in car key burglaries in and around the rurals where offenders are targeting high end BMW’s via car key burglary.

We are working diligently to bring these offenders to justice however we strongly urge owners of BMW’s to be vigilant of their home and vehicle security.

The offenders will often target side or rear UPVC doors breaking off the handles before snapping and removing the lock barrels before gaining entry taking the vehicle keys before making off with the vehicle, while we always recommend getting anti snap locks installed on UPVC doors especially on rear patio doors and we also recommend protecting your vehicle with an anti-theft device in the form of either an engine immobiliser and/or steering/pedal lock.  I personally can’t recommend a steering lock enough, the brighter the colour the better as a giant yellow bar visible in the front window of your vehicle is a great deterrent to any would be thieves prowling past.

We’d also like to request that residents keep an eye out for any suspicious activity that could be linked to car theft, it could be an unknown vehicle creeping around in the early hours of the morning or people paying particular attention to/taking photos of parked vehicles. 

Of you do see something suspicious then please contact us on 101 with as much detail as possible or if a crime is taking place or you believe is about to take place then please call us on 999.