ALTON has experienced an abnormally high number of car crimes in recent weeks, which Alton Police have taken steps to tackle.

The town has experienced a total of 26 car crimes (including vehicle theft, theft from vehicles and damage to vehicles) during the last month, compared to 15 in the previous month.

The crimes tend to happen in spates of one or two days, the most recent of which occurred just last weekend.

Despite the recent escalation in these crimes, Alton Police Inspector Steve Mote is confident that the figures will drop significantly in the coming month.

Inspector Mote explained: ÒWe are actually quite fortunate, because one of our best known car criminals was in court last week on 17 charges, and has been sent to prison for 10 months.

ÒHe has been arrested numerous times, and we are pleased that the court saw fit to give him a sentence.

ÒWe are under no illusion that this guy could be responsible for all of the vehicle crimes in the area, but we are confident that he was a very large contributing factor.

ÒThis is illustrated by the fact that this man was in court last Thursday and we have not had a single crime of this type since Saturday.

ÒI must admit, I was getting rather concerned about the situation before we got the news from the courts. But we are very confident that we will now see a significant drop in car crime figures.Ó

To further combat crimes of this sort, Inspector Mote has issued this advice to the public, to help people reduce the risks of becoming a victim of car crime.

Inspector Mote said: ÒThere isnÕt much people can do to prevent criminal damage being done to their cars. If someone is determined to break off your aerial or rip off a wing mirror, then they will.

ÒThe same goes for breaking into a car, because anyone can smash a window. The trick is to minimise the loss once they get in.

ÒIt is astonishing how many people still leave valuables in plain view in a locked car, thinking that they will be safe. If you leave handbags, mobile phones, wallets, cheque books or passports in full view of the outside world, then your vehicle is immediately more of a target for criminals.

ÒBut even if they are not in plain view, criminals will break into a car just on the offchance that there might be something of worth in there.

ÒLeaving valuables in the boot or under the seat might not be good enough, so our advice would be to remove everything from the car when it is left unattended. That way, if someone does break into your vehicle, then at least theyÕll go away empty handed.

ÒVans and commercial vehicles are often at risk, because many of them contain power tools which are valuable and easy to carry. People donÕt tend to remove them overnight, and thieves know this. Though it is inconvenient to many, this is exactly what weÕd advise people to do.

ÒThe local beauty spots such as Alice Holt Forest are common places for these crimes to happen. People go there to walk their dogs, and so the criminals can be confident that they will not be returning to their vehicles for a while.

ÒSome people take the trouble to put their valuables in the boot when they get there, but this is futile. A professional criminal will sit there waiting for people, watch them put their valuables in the boot, and know exactly where to look.

ÒPeople should also remember the usual advice given in these matters. Always park in well lit areas whenever possible, remember to remove stereo fascias for security, and get alarms and immobilisers fitted to your vehicle.

ÒCar crimes are really irritating for the victim, because not only do you lose your kit, but youÕve also got to go to the expense of replacing it, and then thereÕs also the expense of fixing the damage that the thieves did to your vehicle on the way in.

ÒTraditionally, car crime rates go up in the spring and summer, but we hope that this will not be the case this year. Heeding this advice could help local people to stop it happening to them.Ó