Campaign targets theft from cars

Campaign targets theft from cars

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Belmont Acting Sergeant Kurt Bryant, Hamed Aboelatta, Karen Kujawski, Acting Sergeant Royston Sheppard, Mathew Owens and Cara Finch with the gone in less than 60 seconds car. Photograph – Hamish Hastie.

Councils in the southeast are working with police in a new campaign to tackle theft from motor vehicles.

The cities of Canning, Armadale, Gosnells, Belmont, South Perth along with the Town of Victoria Park and Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale launched the gone in less than 60 seconds campaign this month.

The campaign raises awareness of how quickly theft can happen and how leaving valuables such as phones and bags visible in an unattended vehicle increases the chances of a theft.

A clearly marked vehicle will be parked at shopping centres, events and hot spots and display items targeted by opportunistic thieves such as mobile phones, computer tablets and cash.

Visitors will be given the challenge to find all the valuable items left in the display car.
The car features a television screen with footage of thefts from vehicles that took less than 60 seconds.

It will show how visible items can be to a thief.

The display will be at Westfield Carousel and elsewhere and a drawcard to begin the conversation about thefts from cars.

City of Canning chief executive Lyn Russell said the campaign is an example of how the city works with other agencies to create community awareness around a serious and regular issue.

“The City of Canning is committed to improving safety outcomes for our community,” she said.