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Sports fans’ cars are thieves’ target

Bethan Dorsett
15/ 1/2008

UNSUSPECTING sports fans are being targeted by thieves when they visit Spotland.

Cars are being broken into by thieves wanting to get their hands on expensive goods like satellite navigation systems while people are watching Rochdale Football Club or the Hornets play.

Council officers say the smash-and-grab raids are increasing, but could be avoided if drivers used common sense.

Mark Reynolds, from the community safety team, said: "At the last home game alone we had three break-ins on surrounding streets. You only had to see the smashed glass from cars on the pavement to realise there was a problem. This is becoming more and more common.

"It seems that someone has realised that there are rich pickings to be found on match days.

"We also have noticed a general rise in car crime in Spotland, Passmonds and Cutgate."

Car crime was set as one of the top priorities for the Spotland ward during a recent police and communities together (PACT) meeting.

As a result, Mr Reynolds will be one of the officers out and about delivering safety leaflets to homes across the area next week, while police community support officers will be on hand during every match to offer similar advice.

He is also warning drivers to take simple precautions to ward off the criminals.

"I tell drivers nothing they don’t know already," he said. "Keep valuables out of sight."