Spate Of Thefts From Vehicles In Swale

Kent Police are investigating 11 reports of thefts from vehicles in Swale over the last few days.

Officers are investigating reports of theft after seven vehicles were reported to have been broken into overnight in various areas in Sittingbourne between Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th August and between Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th August four more reports of theft were made with vehicles targeted in Sittingbourne, Iwade and Kemsley.

One report was received where between 8pm on Saturday (5th August) and 10am on Sunday (6th August) a car parked on a driveway in Park Avenue, Sittingbourne, was targeted. The vehicle is believed to have been left unlocked and a purse stolen from inside.

Another vehicle was also targeted between 12.40pm and 2.20pm on Sunday (6th August) in Raspberry Hill Lane, Iwade, where a window was smashed and a bag containing a small quantity of cash was reported stolen.

Kent Police Inspector Gavin Wade of the Swale Community Safety Unit told SFM News: "we have received a number of reports recently where both secure and insecure vehicles have been targeted. Please do not rely on remote door locking devices as they sometimes fail, I would encourage drivers to physically check their vehicles before walking away and always ensure anything of value is removed from the car or kept out of sight."

As well as locking and alarming vehicles Kent Police are advising that you shoud:

- Remove any valuable or sentimental items;
- Secure items in your boots or take them out of the vehicle if it is left unattended;
- Park in a secure car park or well-lit location whenever possible;
- Wipe away SatNav suction marks, as sometimes these can entice a thief to break in.

Anyone with information about these recent thefts in Swale can call Kent Police's appeal line on 01795 419119 quoting crime reference XY/039287/17.

Or alternatively they can call Kent Crimestoppers, free (from any landline) and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.