Thieves stole a high-value car and attempted to steal five others in Three Rivers overnight, prompting police to issue an urgent security message to motorists with keyless vehicles.
A Bentley was stolen from Old Mill Road in Hunton Bridge, between 7.30am and 7.50am today (Thursday, August 14), a crime which is being linked to four other incidents in the area overnight.
Police are also investigating the suspected attempted theft of a Porsche and another Bentley from two separate addresses in Rickmansworth between 3.20am and 3.50am today (14 August).
Additionally, a BMW and a Mercedes were both targeted at the same address in Loudwater just before 5.25am, but the thieves were unsuccessful and left empty handed.
The final attempt was made at an address in Chorleywood, where the thieves tried to steal a Mercedes between 6am and 6.15am but again, they were not successful. All the vehicles involved in the crime series use the keyless entry method.
Inspector Ben Harper, who leads the Three Rivers Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Investigators are working to gather as much information as possible as we explore all avenues of enquiry, and we also want to reassure the public that we will be increasing our proactive patrols of the district in response to these incidents.
“We would urge those who own high-value keyless vehicles to carry out an urgent review of their car’s security to ensure they’re doing all they can to prevent theft. In four out of five incidents overnight, the thieves were thankfully unsuccessful in their attempts to steal. We believe this is largely due to the security measures taken by the victims to protect their vehicles, so it just shows how important these steps are.”
Inspector Harper added: “We are also appealing for public assistance in relation to these incidents, so if you think you have any information that could help our inquiry, however small, then please get in touch.
“We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw a Bentley being driven away from Old Mill Road in Hunton Bridge between 7.30am and 7.50am this morning. If you have home CCTV or a doorbell camera, please check your footage and contact us if you believe you’ve captured anything significant.”
You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room via the online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101.
Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
If a crime is in progress, or someone’s life is in danger, always call 999.
To greatly reduce the risk of your keyless vehicle being targeted, police advise the following:
· Keep your car key (and the spare) in a part of your home which is well away from the vehicle (i.e not the hallway)
· Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday bag, and check if the bag or pouch is still working every few months.
· Reprogramme your keys if you buy a second-hand car.
· Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used.
Additional physical security such as locks and immobilisers are still highly recommended. For more information on these measures, and further vehicle crime prevention advice, visit the Herts Police website.
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