Page 4 - PR Mag Aug19

Police Urge Owners to Help Drive Down Vehicle
Thefts
Police are encouraging vehicle owners to consider
installing GPS tracking devices and employ basic
security measures to help drive down vehicle thefts
across Queensland.
A total of 16,322 cars, motorcycles and trucks were reported
stolen across Queensland last financial year (2018 / 2019), up
from 14,133 in the previous financial year (2017 / 2018).
Acting Senior Sergeant Lee Fortune said in the majority of cases,
Seniors Week 2019 homes and businesses are targeted where thieves easily track
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have partnered with Queensland Ballet to give seniors “Police are continuing to see vehicles being stolen either
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Held as part of Queensland Seniors Week (17-25 August), two burglaries where keys are quickly located,” Acting Senior
sessions will be offered on Saturday 17 August at 10am and Sergeant Fortune said.
1.30pm. “We are encouraging vehicle owners to take a moment to think
Free to attend, bookings are essential. Search ‘Ballet’ on about their current security measures and whether they could
#HealthyActiveMoreton event calendar: mbrc.qld.gov.au/ be improved to reduce the risk of having their vehicle stolen.
healthy-active “This could be as simple as keeping your keys in a hidden location
For more Seniors Week activities, please visit - within your home rather than in plain sight and ensuring your
https://www.qldseniorsweek.org.au/events/ vehicle, home and business is secured at all times.”
On average, three quarters of all stolen vehicles are recovered in
varying conditions.
Acting Senior Sergeant Fortune said owners of trucks and high-
end vehicles should consider installing GPS devices which help
police safely track down stolen vehicles.
“There is a range of GPS tracking technology available to
motorists which allows police to quickly locate vehicles if they
are stolen,” he said.
“We have seen many occasions where owners have provided
police with GPS details, allowing officers to locate the stolen
vehicle and arrest the offenders without dangerous pursuits and
damage to the vehicle.”
Queensland Police is committed to reducing vehicle theft across
the state through a range of enforcement and preventative
strategies.
“Theft of any kind is not acceptable but having a valuable
possession such as the family car or the work truck stolen is
devastating and costly,” he said.
“That is why we are continuing to roll out enforcement strategies
such as using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology
to detect stolen vehicles.”
Top 5 strategies to protect your vehicle
1. Always keep your vehicle locked and secured – even if you are
only leaving it for a moment.
2. Keep the keys to your vehicle in a hidden location – not on the
kitchen bench or a key rack.
3. Remove all valuables from the vehicle
4. Consider installing a steering wheel lock, car alarm or
immobiliser
5. Consider installing a GPS tracking device with live monitoring
Download the new vehicle security fact sheet here:
https://bit.ly/2JyI9yf