Mayors unite to combat car theft this Christmas

Having a car stolen is stressful, inconvenient and costly, particularly during the festive season. Community members across Newcastle and the Hunter are being urged to be vigilant over summer as motor vehicle thefts are set to spike the time of year.  

Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent joined forces with Mayors from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens today to educate people across the region about motor vehicle theft and how to avoid becoming a victim.  

Cessnock City Mayor Councillor Bob Pynsent said the Cessnock Local Government Area is currently ranked number two in the state for motor vehicle thefts. In 2018 there was 298 vehicles stolen from our area.  

“The data shows these crimes are opportunistic and it’s common for thieves to steal car keys in a home theft. A simple tip is to keep your keys out of sight when at home. Don’t leave them in obvious spots like near doors or windows. It’s also advised that your keys shouldn’t have a tag that has your name and address.”  

Residents are also encouraged to get in the habit of checking their keys are not still in their vehicle after taking the grocery bags. Historically, televisions and computers were among the items stolen in home burglaries, however vehicles are now the most common target, with keys the sole item stolen in roughly 1-in-4 break and enter cases. 

NSW Police have advised this trend for residential addresses is due to a shift in car theft practices, with thieves targeting homes to steal keys of vehicles, rather than pursuing vehicles in public areas as likely to be under surveillance.

This campaign has been funded by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) and is a joint initiative of Newcastle, Cessnock, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens Councils.

 12/5/2019