Thirty minutes after a man reported two men acting suspiciously around his vehicle in St Albans, officers cornered a stolen vehicle from a nearby address.
A resident in Osprey Drive had seen two men on his doorbell camera looking around his BMW at 3am on Friday, February 28 – but they left when they activated the security light.
Officers from Intervention, traffic and dogs attended immediately and searched neighbouring streets.
A few minutes later, PC Ryan Coyle and PC Elise Dracup spotted a Mercedes-Benz trying to leave the area, but the driver got caught in a closed road due to roadworks and he decamped.
Checks identified the vehicle as having just been stolen from Kestrel Way – less than 100 metres from where it was abandoned.
Investigations continue to identify the offenders.
The police shared: “Thanks to the member of the public for contacting us on 999 so quickly – as a result, two cars are still on their driveways.”
Police shared tips on how to avoid car thefts:
· When at home, keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.
· 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.
· Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used.
· Consider installing a doorbell camera. In this case, footage assisted in alerting the homeowner who called the police
· Motion-activated security lighting can act as a deterrent.
· If you see someone acting suspiciously around vehicles, please call police immediately on 999.
Photo: Google Earth
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