Vehicle Crime

We have recently seen an increase in vehicle crime in the area, both during the day and night.  This includes the theft of vehicles, particularly vans and motorcycles.  There have also been ‘theft from’ offences, with a spate of trades persons vans having tools stolen from them while either left unlocked outside of a customers address, or broken into overnight.

We are conducting patrols to identify and deter offenders, as well as providing reassurance to the public.

If you have a van, please remember to keep the doors closed and locked when unattended, even if you are nearby.  It doesn’t take long for a suspect to take your expensive power tools and disappear before you’ve noticed.

If you have a motorcycle, consider parking it somewhere out of sight, either in a garage or in a rear garden if possible.  Also invest in a good quality wheel lock or similar security device.

Actions

• 16 June 2024
  

  As we’re now into the summer months, we are increasing patrols of public car parks around the lakes as they get busy.  We hope this will provide reassurance to people leaving their vehicles parked while visiting, and at the same time act as a deterrent for would be thieves.

• 14 February 2024
  

  During January there were reports circulating on local Facebook groups about a suspicious male riding a bicycle around villages across the Chew Valley area.  He had been seen looking into car windows and trying door handles.  Unfortunately, most of these incidents were not reported to the police at the time and the male was not identified.  We would like to remind people to report suspicious incidents like this to the police at the time they are occurring, using 999 if you believe an offence is in progress or about to be committed.  We can then attend and try to locate any suspects.  The police do not monitor local Facebook groups and incidents are not able to be reported via social media.