Police in Richmond are breaking into drivers’ unlocked cars as part of a new scheme to help reduce crime.
Officers are on the lookout for cars which are unlocked, have open windows or doors left ajar.
They remove any valuables from the car and leave a letter on the driver’s seat, which explains what happened and who they need to contact to retrieve their goods.
Valuables can be collected from the nearest police station and a ‘crime prevention’ note will be left with the driver or posted to their address.
Police are hoping the scheme will increase awareness of leaving vehicles unsecured and reduce a recent rise in car theft.
Do you think the scheme will be a success? What do you think about police breaking into people’s cars?
Has it happened to you?
Dominic Sacco
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This is a good idea in theory and i can see why they are doing it. However, even though they are preventing a thief from taking the property from the car, they them selves are commiting theft. They should have rather hid the items out of site in the car and sent a letter to the owner explaining what happened. That way no laws are broken and it helps minimize public outrage for police taking their stuff.
They are not, and have no intention of, permanently depriving any individual of their possessions, hence it cannot be regarded, in law, as theft. Especially as they’d be leaving notes for the owners as to where they can collect their belongings, one sufficient identification has presumably been provided.
If you leave your house front door open they might remove all your contents and if they injure themselves in the process they may have to sue you.
Its very strange that out of 26 cars they entered 25 owners returned before they could make off.
Obviously they waited to browbeat the owners as they are overcome by the verbosity of their own exuberance. I personally will be on the look-out for
unlocked abandoned police cars usually to be found around Macdonalds and such like!
Just like normal you’ve provided several good knowledge. Been a lurker on the website for a time and needed to say thanks to you for spending some time to post it.
What a load of ‘Muppets’!! If you’re stupid enough to leave valuable items in plain view then you deserve getting your car broken into – whether it is the police or some low-life. At least if it’s the police you’ll get your gear back and the, already crazy, insurances premiums will only be affected by the insurances companies greed, and not by thickos who can’t think.
As for the ‘kitted up flashy car’ brigade – have you something to hide (besides your obvious low self esteem)?
This policy will only affect the stupid – if you’re not stupid then why complain!!??
The simple solution for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of collecting their items from the police station after they have ‘just popped to the shops’ is to always make sure the car is locked in the first place – it’s not rocket science.
Lol how many times have we seen people whinging about theft of their goods which they leave lying around? Handbags, cameras, laptops in parked unlocked cars? Never mind the car getting stolen too.. “But honest Mr Insurance Man it was locked and inside my alarmed garage….” I’d rather someone took care of them for me than some toerag sold them for drug money.
I bet a few of the posters here would sue their mothers if they lifted their dirty socks off the bedroom floor…. they probably see THAT as theft too….
Not in America, no way! That kind of twisted thinking would only fly in the European states. State sponsored theft….what will they think of next?
Perhaps they should assault a citizen? Call it “Citizen self defense Awareness Program”
Or how about cleaning out the valuables in someones home? Locking a door or not locking a door does not matter….when one does not have permission it is Illegal!
The Europeans that even CONSIDER this a good thing are setting themselves up for all kinds of Police State “Compassionate actions”.
By the time they realize these actions are reminiscent of Gestapo tactics, it will be too late to turn the tide.
Are the people complaining serious??
What would you rather the police ‘taking and holding’ your valuables or some thief stealing your items without any chance of retrieval?
This plan is for those idiots who leave the car unsecured and to be honest if your stupid enough to leave valuables in a position where they can be easily taken then you deserve to have them stolen. The police would be doing you a favour!
then i think there will be shortage of cops as there are many many people forgetting things like this and cops need to go till them ?
I think it`s a good idea, much rather them getting in and preventing a crime than losing my property because i have forgot to do something i should never forget!
Maybe i would be able to use the experience as a reminder in future.