Police warn on thefts

DON’T let your sat nav become “sat nabbed” this Christmas.
That’s the message from Greater Dandenong Police who have set up specialised crews to target theft from motor cars over Christmas.
Opportunistic thieves are stealing valuables from more cars than ever before in south-eastern suburbs, causing residents great inconvenience.
But they are helped greatly by motorists failing to remove valuables from their cars, despite multiple warnings. The police division made up of Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong has seen thefts from motor vehicles between July and November 2008 increase significantly compared with the same period last year.
The figures show those thefts have increased across the state but not as significantly as in the south-eastern suburbs. Police are using the slogan “Remove It Or Lose It” to remind people that they must remove all valuables, however insignificant, from their cars, no matter where they are parked.
Casey Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Dean Thomas said GPS navigational units were the most stolen items ahead of portable music players, laptops, sunglasses and loose change.