Phoenix police concerned as motor vehicle thefts continue to rise across communities. The police urges residents to remain vigilant and take preventative measures to safeguard their vehicles from thieves, who have become increasingly brazen in their tactics.
Phoenix SAPS spokesperson, Nadia Ebrahim said: “Recent statistics have shown that many motor vehicle theft cases in Phoenix often occur during the evenings at parking lots and residences. Motorists and vehicle owners are therefore urged to work together with the police and to put preventative measures in place in order to deter criminals from being able to steal motor vehicles within the Phoenix policing prescient. The rise in motor vehicle theft can be attributed to several factors, including the increase in demand for stolen vehicles and organised crime syndicates targeting high-end cars.”
She said: “We are asking the community to help us prevent these crimes by staying alert and taking simple but effective precautions. Together, we can eradicate crime by making more difficult for thieves to operate.” Phoenix SAPS encouraged residents to take heed of the following preventative measures:
• Exercise caution at parking areas and report unknown and suspicious persons or motor vehicles to the police and parking lot security.
• Avoid leaving or parking vehicles for a long time in areas or streets that are not well lit.
• Do not leave valuables in plain sight.
• If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, backing into your driveway will also make it more difficult for a thief to tow it away.
• Ensure that all vehicles and motor bikes are locked and safely parked inside your premises. Park your vehicle in the garage if you have one and always remember to lock the garage door or lock your property gates if you don’t have a garage.
• Do not leave the registration or log book in your vehicle.
• Always use your emergency brake when parking, which ensures safety and also makes it difficult for a thief to tow your vehicle away.
• Keep your vehicle’s identification number on car windows and major parts. This procedure makes vehicles and parts more easily traceable when stolen or make use of the latest data dot technology.
• Disable your vehicle when leaving it unattended for an extended period of time.
• Engrave expensive accessories like car stereos, cellular phones, compact disc changers, external speakers so that the thief will have difficulty disposing of them.
• Drop business cards, address labels or other identification inside vehicle doors to help assist law enforcement in identifying your vehicle or parts.
• Replace easily accessible door lock assemblies.
• Install an anti-theft device or system in your vehicle as an extra deterrent measure.
“The community is informed that theft of motor vehicle cases are investigated by the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) in Isipingo. A theft of motor vehicle case can be opened at the station where the vehicle was stolen in but your case will be investigated by the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit and not station detectives. This is a specialised unit focussing on vehicle crimes. The contact number for Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) is 031 913 3409 / 417,” added Ebrahim.
