334 CAR THEFT CASES. . . these are the cases reported this year alone

Paidamoyo Bore

POLICE have urged motorists to be vigilant as cases of car theft spike.

Between January and September, about 334 cases were reported to the police.

In an interview with H-Metro, Detective Johannes Chitiki from CID Press and Public Relations, said carjackers were working day and night.

“As police, we continue to urge the motoring public to keep vehicles locked at all times, even when driving.

“When parked, never leave your keys in the car, or leave your car running and unattended.

“Make it a habit to physically check that the doors are locked and windows are closed,” said Det Chitiki.

He urged the public to avoid leaving valuables in vehicles where passers by can easily see them.

He reminded motorists to constantly check their rear-view mirrors for any vehicle, which might suspiciously be following them.

In such circumstances, they should drive to a safe place, or any nearest police station, for assistance

Stolen vehicles, more often than not, are the ones used as getaway cars.

“They can steal the vehicle in order to commit other crimes and use it as a getaway car which they abandon afterwards.

“Some steal in order to re-sell the vehicle or break it up before selling spare parts,” he said.

He also warned that some people were losing their cars during test drives.

“Please, when transacting on any deals involving motor vehicles, do not give the intended buyer or mechanic your vehicle for a test drive, without anyone you trust.”

He urged motorists to take the necessary measures to protect their vehicles.

“These include physical barriers, which make the effort of stealing the vehicle more difficult, such as steering-wheel locks and                                                    immobilisers.

“These immobilisers allow the vehicle to start only if a key containing the correct chip is present in the ignition.

“It works by locking the steering wheel and disabling the ignition.

“There are also what we call deterrents, which cause a vehicle to make a sound, if it has been tampered with.

“These include car alarm systems and anti-hijack devices to mention but a few,” he said.