Covert cars target sat nav thefts

Police say thieves often look out for evidence of sat nav systems

Gwent Police have started using covert "capture" cars, fitted with hidden cameras, to trap sat nav thieves.

The cars, which will be parked at different locations, also have satellite technology to notify officers when they are being tampered with.

Police are hoping the car will act as a deterrent to thieves. Officers will also be notifying owners if cars are spotted with valuables on display.

The method has cut car crime in force areas in England, police said.

Gwent Police are to issue cleaning wipes for motorists to remove residue left on windscreens and dashboards from satellite navigation systems.

They said criminals were targeting sat navs and looking for evidence of marks where they had been removed.

Car owners often hide these items underneath their seats or in their glove compartments rather than taking them out of their car as is advised by police, said the force.

It's been successful in England and we believe it can be successful in Wales as well. Det Insp Richard Williams

Drivers who are identified as leaving sat navs and other valuables on display will be sent a letter by police.

It will also advise them of the precautions they should take.

Detective Inspector Richard Williams said the campaign is being run in conjunction with so-called capture cars which would be "invaluable" in securing successful prosecutions.

"Offenders will be caught on camera when they break into a capture car and not only will it catch people committing crime but it will also go some way in deterring people and making them think twice about breaking into vehicles," he said.

"It is different, it is something we haven't tried before. It's been successful in England and we believe it can be successful in Wales as well."

Devon and Cornwall Police reported that vehicle crime and theft from cars had fallen in both counties since the capture cars were introduced in 2005.

The latest car crime statistics for the Gwent Police force area showed that vehicle crime had fallen by 6%.

There were 1,923 incidents in the period between October and December 2006, compared to 2,042 in the same period in 2005.

But Det Insp Williams said the force was keen to reduce this figure further with the help of the capture cars.