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I wanted to provide an update regarding theft from motor vehicles, which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey. Good news for Cranford residents,
At the beginning of the year, Cranford saw an increase in Theft From Motor Vehicles. Cranford SNT officers were aware of this and it became one of our ward priorities.
Cranford SNT officers conducted many foot and mobile patrols through areas that fell victim to thefts from motor vehicles, where there appeared to be hotspots. Officers also went to victims homes, to speak face to face with those who fell victim to the crime. This included offering crime prevention advice to tackle this ward priority. For example, we often noticed that the houses without Ring Doorbells or CCTV, often fell victim, so this was always suggested as a crime prevention technique. Officers always provided reassurance patrols around the affected areas to not only deter the crime from continuing, but also as a reassurance technique to members of the Cranford community.
Cranford SNT officers were also involved in giving out Crime Prevention advice for Theft from Motor Vehicles to Cranford residents generally at events such as Goa Day and the Afghanistan Festival at Cranford Community College. This was always appreciated.
As a result from these actions, Cranford has seen a declining trend in Theft from Motor Vehicles. This crime peaked in May 2025, with 18 reported incidents. In June, this halved to 9 reported incidents, 8 incidents in July, 6 in August and 1 reported incident in September.
We hope this is good news to residents of Cranford as we were aware that this was a concern to many. We hope this helps to boost confidence in policing, where we aim to tackle all crimes that take place in the community and put extra focus on the ones that matter most to the residents.
Many thanks,
Cranford Safer Neighbourhoods Team
 Having personal items stolen from your vehicle is an upsetting experience, and we are determined to find and arrest those who break the law. We will keep you updated with what we are doing to tackle this in your area, but in the meantime, please follow the below advice to help protect your belongings. Check that your vehicle is locked and secure every time you leave it. Thieves often look for easy opportunities to steal from vehicles. They will usually try the handles until they get lucky and find one that has been left unlocked. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home and away from your front door. If you have a keyless entry vehicle, keep the key well away from the vehicle while at home and turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used. Consider putting the keys in a screened or signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check that it is still working every few months. Remove all items from view by taking them with you or putting them in the boot out of sight. Thieves will look for any items on display. Things like clothes, documents or an old bag might not seem like valuables, but they could still tempt a thief. Ensure you remove all other clues there might be valuables linked to the car, such as phone chargers or sat-nav mounts. Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you do not have access to one, try to park in a well –lit open space. Try to use public car parks that are part of the police approved Park Mark safer parking scheme. Secure your number plates with tamper resistant screws to avoid them being stolen and used by others.
If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years, and we want to make sure you have had the chance to have your say. The consultation paper is available online, as well as a survey to let us know what you think. This closes on the 15 September. |
