Information on Loughborough

Beauty spot crime reduced to zero but police still need public's help

Posted on 30/06/2009

arrest,villain,police,constabulary Beauty spot crime reduced to zero but police still need public's help

Police in Charnwood have launched an operation to reduce the number of cars being broken into at the beauty spot car parks in the area.

Charnwood local policing unit has a large number of popular country parks including Bradgate Park, Swithland Woods, Beacon Hill, Old John, Broombriggs and Breakback Lane. 

Last year, 30 cars were broken into at these locations, two thirds of them at Swithland Woods and Bradgate Park, and the majority of offences happened in June.  Operation Penstock has been launched in 2009 to try and prevent unattended vehicles being targeted by opportunist and travelling criminals.  The neighbourhood beat teams are carrying out regular, high visibility patrols in the area; a plain clothed operation is underway and officers are taking the ‘beat bus’ to the parks to offer crime prevention advice to people using the woods.  New crime prevention signs have been put up around the car park reminding motorists to take all their belongings with them and not to leave anything on display. 

There haven’t been any thefts from cars at these locations since 2nd May 2009.  On the 14th May 2009, a 42 year old man from Loughborough was arrested on suspicion of theft from motor vehicles at the neighbouring Jubilee Woods and has been released on police bail until 16th July 2009. 

Sergeant Andy Moscrop from Syston police station said; “During the summer months we experience a significant number of vehicles being broken into across our beauty spot locations which fall across a large geographical area. Our records show that officer’s patrols around the car parks have been very frequent and will have played a large part in the fact that we haven’t had any incidents reported to us since the beginning of May.  We are also working alongside Charnwood Borough Council and deploying a crime prevention vehicle at various sites. The key message we are keen to get across to visitors to these locations is make sure nothing of value is left in their vehicles.”

Cllr. David Snartt, Chairman of the Charnwood Community Safety Partnership said “We will support the police in making this operation a success; this is a critical time of the year because of the high numbers of visitors to our local country parks.  It is important to keep educating the public about the consequences of leaving items of value in their vehicles. All the enjoyment of visiting these excellent locations may disappear, if on return to their vehicle it is found items have been taken, especially if some small crime prevention actions could have prevented this happening in the first place. 

“The partnership believes this is one area of crime prevention that, if we all work together, significant reductions can be achieved, but we do need the public to help in achieving these goals.” 

Other crime prevention advice; 

  • Make sure that doors are locked and windows are closed when you leave the car even if it’s only for a moment.
  • Leaving items on display in the car, for example handbags, jackets and mobile phones, are an appealing target for thieves. Take them with you, or put them out of view whenever possible. Consider having the windows etched with the car’s vehicle registration number and keep a note of the chassis number somewhere safe.
  • Car stereos are attractive to thieves, if possible remove them whenever you leave your car. Retract car aerials and tuck in wing mirrors to discourage vandals.
  • If you have a garage at home, make sure you can lock it and use it. When using public car parks, try to park in an attended car park and look for signs that say ‘Secured Car Parks’. If you can’t find a car park, try to avoid parking in places that are unlit, have easy access and are hidden from public view. 

The beat bus will be at the following locations on the following dates; 

05/07/09 – Police Rural Beat Vehicle, Old John Car Park, Bradgate Park

12/07/09– CBC Crime Prevention Trailer, Newtown Linford main car park

22/08/09 – Police Rural Beat Vehicle, am Swithland/pm Cropston village

20/09/09 – CBC Crime Prevention Trailer, Newtown Linford main car park