POLICE are warning people to be on their guard after 11 cars
were broken into over the space of just two days.
Two folding pocket knives, bank cards, a hammer drill and
mobile phones were amongst items taken from six cars from Sutton-in-Craven last
Thursday, and five parked in Gargrave on Friday.
Also taken was £600 in cash, electric jigsaws, a satellite
navigation system and house keys.
Inspector Geoff Crocker, of Skipton Police, said
in addition to cars being broken in to, criminals stole one vehicle after
finding its keys in another insecure car.
"The link between these crimes aside from the locations
is that the owners admit to the vehicle being insecure or that they have no
idea how the offenders have entered the car with no apparent damage," he
said.
"Following a series of vehicles broken into in Gargrave
earlier this year I was staggered by the number of insecure vehicles and the
ease at which a group of criminals which we did later catch were able to amass
a huge haul of goods worth hundreds of pounds."
And he warned unless people took steps to secure their
property, criminals would continue to return on the easy hunt for such rich
pickings.
"People should use the locks they have, lock their cars,
front doors, garages, and outbuildings. If they always do this, then they
should speak to neighbours and encourage them to do it."
He also urged;
"Anyone who saw
anything suspicious going on to call 999 straight away."
"If we work together we can deter and even catch the
criminals. Anyone who sees someone trying door handles should call us straight
away," he said.
