Vehicle Crime and Tool Theft

Don’t give thieves an easy ride

Having your vehicle stolen or something stolen from it isn’t just an inconvenience, it can also result in financial loss, emotional stress and, depending on where the theft took place, security and community safety concerns.

In the 12 months to the end of August this year, there have been 3,496 vehicle thefts and 6,666 thefts from vehicles in the Thames Valley.

To help address this, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is working with Thames Valley Police and partners, retailers and hoteliers on a campaign to raise awareness of precautions residents can take to help reduce the risk.

Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “This dedicated crime prevention campaign, in support of ongoing policing activity, aims to inform residents about how to keep vehicles and tools safe from criminals.

“Vehicle crime is currently down in the Thames Valley compared to last year. However, I want this trend to continue which is why it remains a priority in my Police and Crime Plan. Vehicle crime has a significant impact on victims and on feelings of safety in our communities which undermines public confidence.

“The campaign will consist of a clear car advice posters and literature with more detailed advice and guidance, which will be distributed through our partners and stakeholders. In addition we will host a number of tool marking events providing tradespeople an opportunity to speak to industry experts and have their tools protectively marked, improving the chances of them being returned in the event that they are stolen.”

Campaign launch video

How can I protect my vehicle?

To help prevent theft from your vehicle, there are a number of top tips you can follow including:

Removing your valuables such as cash, credit cards, shopping bags, sunglasses, mobile phones and any device holders.
Parking with care in a well-lit area where possible.
Ensuring you have locked your car and closing any windows.

To help prevent theft of your vehicle, there are a number of top tips you can follow including:

When at home keep your key a good distance from your car and keep them out of sight, making sure they are not visible through a front door or window.
Put your car keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag. If your car doesn’t unlock while the fob’s inside, it’s working. Don’t forget to use one for your spare fob too.
Lock your vehicle, even when refuelling or parked at home.
Check the technology on your vehicle and how to use it – some vehicles have a super or double locking feature, which disables the interior door handles and means a thief can’t unlock the door from the inside if enabled.
Use physical security measures such as steering wheel and gear stick locks, which have been tested to Secured By Design and Sold Secure standards.

To find out more about how to prevent theft from your vehicle, please visit the Thames Valley Police website.

How can I get involved in the campaign?

There are a number of ways that you can get involved with our vehicle crime and tool theft campaign, including:

Making sure that you follow the above advice to help prevent theft from/of your vehicle.
If you see anything suspicious, please report it to Thames Valley Police.
Sharing your support for the campaign by visiting our Facebook, ‘X’, LinkedIn or Instagram social media channels and re-sharing our campaign posts.

If you represent a retailer or hotelier that is based in the Thames Valley, please get in touch and we can send out printed copies of our campaign materials for display.

“This dedicated crime prevention campaign, in support of ongoing policing activity, aims to inform residents about how to keep vehicles and tools, safe from criminals.”

Matthew Barber, Police & Crime Commissioner