Victims of car crime speak out (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Victims of car crime speak out

11:16am Wednesday 9th May 2007 in Features By Sarah Mawhinney

TWO victims of car crime at beauty spots near Bromsgrove have spoken out to warn other people against leaving valuables in vehicles.

Both said they would not normally leave valuables in vehicles, but that they had taken a chance - and now deeply regretted it.

The first victim was a woman from Birmingham, whose bag, along with that of a friend, was stolen from the boot of a Rover parked at the Warren Lane car park on the Lickey Hills between 6 and 6.40pm on Friday, April 27. The rear windscreen was smashed, causing £150 damage.

The items stolen included bank and store cards, a black filofax worth £5, £5 cash, a glasses case worth £15, a mobile phone worth £100, a satellite navigation system worth £190, and a hearing aid worth £2,000.

The woman said: "We would not normally leave our bags in the car, but we had come straight from work. We now think someone was watching us put our bags in the boot on the car park. It was a real shock to find the car had been broken into and the bags and their contents gone, including a hearing aid belonging to my friend, who is profoundly deaf. We've also had all the inconvenience of having to cancel bank and store cards.

"It's certainly something we won't be doing again."

"We wouldn’t usually risk leaving bags in the car, but there were so many people around we thought they would be safe. We now realise we were wrong."

Crime victim

The other victim was a woman from Oldbury whose purse, along with that of her teenage daughter, was stolen from their bags, which they had hidden under the seats of their Mazda on the Walton Hill car park on the Clent Hills between 1 and 2.15pm on Sunday, April 29.

Taken were various bank and store cards and £20 cash, as well as a black ipod in a brown leather case worth £149.

The woman, who does not want to be identified, said: "We had planned to go shopping after walking our puppy, otherwise we would normally have left our bags at home. We wouldn't usually risk leaving bags in the car, but there were so many people around we thought they would be safe. We now realise we were wrong.

"I feel particularly bad that my daughter's ipod was stolen because she had been going to take her bag on the walk and I persuaded her to leave it in the car. Her ipod had got lots of music on it, so it's really upsetting for her.

"Having our car broken into spoilt the day, and I'd advise other people not to leave any valuables in their vehicles because it's just not worth it."

Police have stepped up patrols at the Lickey, Clent and Waseley Hills, and are warning motorists to leave purses, handbags and other valuables at home or keep them with them, but not to leave them in the vehicle.

Police say it is particularly important not to arrive on the car park and then put valuables in the boot or hide them under the seat as thieves may be watching.

Anyone with information should contact Bromsgrove police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.