Following the increase in theft out of motor vehicles, Linden Police Station spokesperson Sergeant Takalani Sibiya urged motorists to be extra careful when leaving their vehicles parked outside shopping centres with their valuables left inside.
According to Sibiya, more than four cases have been reported to Linden police where criminals have managed to gain access into vehicles and stolen laptops and cellphones. “With most cases there is no forced entry or no windows or doors broken,” said Sibiya.
Recently, a victim alleged that she had parked her black VW Polo in a parking lot in Robindale with all the windows and doors closed and locked. “At about 17:45, she went back to the car and drove straight home, and upon her arrival she realised that her laptop bag and laptop were stolen. There was no forced entry into the car.”
The victim suspects that her remote locking signal had been jammed.
In another incident, the victim alleged that he had parked his black BMW in the parking area at Ferndale on Republic and had ensured that all his windows and doors were closed and locked as his laptop was left inside the boot.
“He drove straight home and on arrival he discovered that his Dell laptop and Samsung A32 were stolen. There was no forced entry into the car.”
The police suspect that most of these cases were a result of signal jamming.
Linden police offered the following safety tips:
- Do not put your valuables such as laptops and handbags in the boot immediately after you park your car or while people are looking at you.
- Look around you and take note of people inside their cars before you leave your car.
- Be extra cautious when you are in the parking lots at malls and shopping complexes.
- Always check that your doors and windows are properly closed and locked.
- Avoid parking your vehicle where there is no security on site.
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