Police urge drivers to lock their cars

Abu Dhabi // Police have reiterated their warning to drivers not to leave valuables on show in their cars, despite thefts from vehicles dropping by 27 per cent last year.

Brig Maktoum Al Sharifi, head of the directorate, said that warnings to always lock your vehicle’s doors were still not being taken seriously enough by the public.

“There are thieves watching for the opportunity to snatch belongings from vehicles parked near stores, homes and public facilities, even if it is a matter of minutes,” he said.

In 2012 there were 143 thefts from a vehicle recorded and this figure dropped to 104 last year.

Brig Al Sharifi said that 82 of the thefts occurred by opening the car’s door, 16 by breaking a window and the rest by deception.

He said that the main reason that items were stolen from cars was the negligence of owners who failed to lock the doors.

“Most of the stolen items reported were phones, computers and money left on display, inviting thieves to snatch the contents inside especially when the doors were unlocked,” Brig Al Sharifi said.

He said that one of the most popular methods of deception used by thieves to fool drivers was stopping the vehicle and claiming that a technical glitch in a tyre or a part of the vehicle was seen.

“When the driver gets off to check, the theft takes place. Another popular method is by using a tool that does not cause much noise to open and steal from vehicles,” he said.

Brig Al Sharifi repeated the police’s warnings against leaving valuable items and cash inside cars.

“If need be, leave them in the boot and lock it well,” he said.