Thefts are not uncommon

The words "carjacking or car theft" have recently appeared very frequently in police reports, despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies and regardless of the protection methods used by car owners. Even very expensive foreign cars equipped with the latest alarms and satellite tracking systems cannot avoid theft.
As practice shows, most car thefts and hijackings occur due to the fault of the owners themselves.
Characteristic examples are also found in our region. In mid-February of this year, a resident of our city contacted the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs with a report that an unidentified criminal had entered her unlocked car, which was in the parking lot of Lenin Square, left unattended for 30 minutes, and, using the key left in the ignition, stole it. It took about 40 minutes for the police officers to find the stolen vehicle and the perpetrator himself. The car was returned to the car owner, and a criminal case was initiated against the carjacker under Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (theft of a road vehicle or small vessel), according to the sanction of which the latter faces punishment in the form of restriction of liberty for a period of two to five years or imprisonment for a period of up to five years.
To avoid becoming a victim of car thieves, police officers offer several simple tips:
1. Do not leave keys in the car, even if you are leaving it for a few seconds. When leaving the car, even for a short time, turn on the existing alarm and other security devices;
2. Without leaving the car interior, check if the car doors and windows are properly closed;
3. If you need to leave your car overnight, choose a well-lit, visible, crowded place. Do not leave your car in wastelands or areas with dense vegetation. Park it close to the wall of a house or closer to another car to make it difficult for a criminal to get into it;
4. Do not keep screwdrivers, pliers, pieces of wire in the car interior when it is parked for a long time, which a criminal can use to start the engine without an ignition key;
5. Do not leave conspicuous items in the car interior; it is better to take them home, or at least cover them. It is not recommended to leave documents and valuable papers in cars;
6. Use special marking of car parts, including windows;
7. If possible, install a double degree of protection (alarm and anti-theft device) - this will help save the car. Not every intruder, having disabled one device, will want to continue their plan, discovering that they will need more time to disable the second;
8. And finally: when buying a used car, be sure to change the door locks, ignition, and anti-theft device.
If your car is still stolen, do not delay contacting the police: the sooner you seek professional help, the higher the probability of your car being returned. An hour, two, three after the theft is already a lot. The clearance rate of such crimes "hot on the trail" is quite high.
Do not forget that in addition to the right to property, every owner also has the obligation to ensure its safety. If you take care of the safety of your property in time, this will be the most effective preventive measure. The main thing is not just to provide the least access to your car and create maximum difficulties for the thief, but simply to deprive dishonest citizens of any chance to harm you.
If you have become a victim of a crime, report it to the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs by phone. 102 or 4-10-02, mobile phone. 510-29-45 MTS.

 

First Deputy Head of the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs -
Head of Criminal Police
Police Lieutenant Colonel D.V. Kutalyov