POLICE increased overnight patrols in an area of Flintshire amid reports of thefts from motor vehicles.

North Wales Police's South Flintshire team said on Wednesday that it received a number of reports of overnight thefts and attempted thefts from motor vehicles in the Dinghouse Wood area of Drury, and Wood Lane area of Hawarden, as well as the theft of a transit van.

A spokesperson said: "Please ensure your vehicles are locked and secure at night and that there are no valuables on display within them.

"There will be increased patrols in the area overnight."

MORE NEWS: 

The North Wales Police website contains a wide range of advice for protecting your vehicle and belongings, including:

  • Always lock it: Fuelling up or popping back into your house to get something are perfect examples of how easy it is to turn your back for a moment and forget your vehicle is unsecured. So get into the habit of locking your vehicle even if you’re only going to be away from it for a moment.
  • Close windows and the sun roof to prevent ‘fishing’: Leaving windows and the sunroof open invites fishing for items through the gap by hand or with, say, a bent coat hanger, which could also be used to unlock a door for them to get in. Thieves can be ingenious. Don’t give them the opportunity.
  • Secure your number plates with tamper-resistant screws: The easiest way to change the identity of a stolen vehicle or avoid speeding tickets and parking tickets is to fit stolen number plates. Using security screws to attach your vehicle’s number plates makes it harder for thieves to get your number.
  • Fit locking, anti-tamper wheel nuts to secure alloy wheels: Stolen wheels are valuable, either as parts or for their scrap value. Using locking wheel nuts reduces the risk of your vehicle’s wheels being stolen. 
  • Secure anything that’s on the outside of your vehicle: Anything left on roof-racks, tailgate racks, holiday top boxes or in tool chests are easily stolen when the vehicle is parked. The use of cable locks, padlocks and self-locking tools chests, which are secured to the vehicle, makes them more secure, but still, don’t leave things in them if you can avoid it.
  • Take it with you or hide it: Your mobile phone, coins for the car park, sunglasses, packs of medication or other items that can earn quick cash are irresistible to the opportunist thief. Remember, the cost of replacing a window is often much more than that of what’s stolen. And it should go without saying that wallets, handbags, purses and credit cards should never be left in an unattended vehicle. 
  • Hide electrical items and leave no clues: Leaving sat nav mounts, suction cup marks on windows or cables on view gives it away that you have left a Sat Nav, smartphone or other device in your car. Even if they can’t see the Sat Nav or iPad they might still break in to see if it’s stored in the car, out of sight.
  • Tool theft from vans: Vans are often targeted by thieves for the tools stored inside. If you have to leave tools in a van overnight, it's a good idea to mark them clearly with your name / company name and address using paint pens and seal with a clear lacquer spray. Alternatively, you can use a variety of other property marking systems. Items that are clearly marked are less desirable and more difficult to sell on.