North Herts villages targeted by car thieves

Four vehicles have been stolen from rural villages in North Herts over the last seven days and residents are being warned to be on their guard and take extra precautions to protect their cars.

All of the vehicles are Vauxhalls and include three Corsas and one Astra. The vehicles were taken from Offley, Lilley and Hexton, and in every case the owners still have all the keys. 

Sergeant Alan Clarke from the North Herts Safer Neighbourhood Teams said: "It appears that Vauxhall cars are being targeted in some of our rural areas and we are appealing for local rural residents to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately. 

"If you are able to use any extra security devices on your vehicles, such as steering wheel locks, and immobilisers, please do so and make sure that all cars are definitely locked when you leave them."

Other advice to follow includes:

Lock your car whenever it is left unattended and keep it in a garage when parked at night if possible.

When using a garage is not possible, park close to fences, walls or a kerb with the exhaust being closest to the fence, wall or kerb to make theft difficult.

Consider fitting CCTV on your home or driveway, to help deter thieves.

Use PIR or LED security lighting to make your vehicle more visible and this can also act as a deterrent.

Noisy gravel on your drive can help deter a would-be thief, as they don't want to alert you to their approach.

Never leave valuable items or tools on display in your vehicle as this may encourage a thief to break in. 

How to protect your keyless entry car:

When at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.

Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag.

Reprogramme your keys if you buy a second hand car.

Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it's not being used.