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Kettering street 'spies' in bid to tackle car crime
An undercover army of Neighbourhood Watch members are being encouraged to stop a surge in car crime by telling police about potential victims.
Residents in the Kettering and Corby Neighbourhood Watch scheme have been asked to tell Northamptonshire Police when they spot motorists who have left expensive equipment like satnavs and laptops on show in their car.
Members are being urged to note where the vehicle is, its registration number, when the car was there and what has been left on display.
The police will then write to the car owner to warn them about the risks of leaving such valuable equipment on view.
The idea is to try to reduce car crime in north Northamptonshire following a recent increase in the number of crimes in the area by using vigilant members of the community to keep their eyes open for vulnerable motorists.
Thefts from vehicles in Corby have rocketed by 130 per cent, with 113 incidents from April to June this year compared with 49 during the same period last year.
Overall, the number of thefts for north Northamptonshire has shot up by 28 per cent, with 859 recorded incidents between April and July, compared with 671 thefts during the same period last year.
Jane Calcott, chairman of the Kettering and Corby Neighbourhood Watch Association, said the initiative was a good idea.
She said: "I think it's a positive move that we can actually help and do something.
"It isn't set in stone that we have to do it – some people will want to and some people won't.
"We don't go around snooping but if I do see something untoward I do something about it. It's not asking you to go around on patrol yourself because that is not how Neighbourhood Watch works.
"The idea is to help prevent crime."
Corby resident John Lucas, of Rose Close, Oakley Vale, said: "Anything is a good idea if it stops crime."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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