Operation Viper crackdown on car crime

Officers from Operation Viper and members of the Dewsbury and Mirfield Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) took to the streets on Wednesday to raise awareness of the issue.

Sgt Des Sawdon, who oversaw the operation, said 168 vehicles were stopped in Huddersfield Road in front of the Co-Op so officers could speak to drivers.

Members of the fire service were also on hand to offer information and advice.

Sgt Sawdon said: “We have seen an increase in theft from motor vehicles so we were reminding people to be vigilant and not leave change on seats.”

Ten private hire cars were broken into in one night in Mirfield, Ravensthorpe and Heckmondwike at the start of last month.

A speeding trap was also set up in Hopton Lane after feedback from residents about speeding problems in the area.

In total, the speed of 200 cars was checked and several warnings given. Four speeding tickets were issued, four vehicles were stopped and searched, three tax disc tickets were issued, along with two seat belt tickets.

This week, West Yorkshire Police revealed that items ranging from bags of crisps, bird seed and a deck chair were some of the more unusual things stolen from vehicles.

Force crime prevention officer Chris Joyce said: “This type of crime is one that can be easily prevented at no cost whatsoever other than a few seconds of time. The consequences of not removing items from your vehicle on leaving it unoccupied can be very upsetting and frustrating.

“It’s very easy to think ‘It won’t happen to me,’ or ‘I’ll pop back out to the car to get my stuff later,’ but later may be too late. It takes seconds to remove items from your vehicle and lock it, the same amount of time it takes a thief to steal them.

“Crime prevention is everyone’s business and it’s vital that we do all that we can to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur.”