Drivers warned about sat nav thefts

Police in Wigan are reminding motorists not to leave satellite navigation devices (sat navs) on display in their cars.

Since the beginning of April  and the beginning of June there have been 60 stolen from cars across the borough, with 20 incidents in Leigh, 16 in Wigan, 11 in Pemberton, seven in Hindley and six in Atherton.

The latest theft occurred on the 6th June when a sat nav was taken from a vehicle on Byron Street in Leigh.

Chief Inspector Bob Pell of Wigan Division said: "The advice I'd give to people who own sat navs is simple – don’t leave them in your vehicle while it’s unattended, as they are easy for criminals to spot and remove.

"Motorists should also remove the sat nav support cradle and make sure they wipe away any suction marks left on the windscreen or dashboard, as thieves will look out for these."

Motorists are advised not to leave anything on display in their cars. Take any valuables with you or store them out of sight in the boot. Anything left on display, including coats and bags, are more likely to tempt a potential thief. Other tips to avoid becoming a victim of car theft includes:

• invest in a good immobiliser alarm
• park in a well lit area
• mark your valuables with your postcode and vehicle registration number
• writing down the make, model and serial number of any items likely to tempt thieves is also useful. You can also register your valuables free at www.imobilise.com (external link)

To report vehicle crime or names of people involved, call police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For further information contact: Max Bowie, GMP Public Relations Officer, on 0161 856 2761 / 2284 or 07979 706797