|
I wanted to provide an update regarding the theft of motor vehicles, which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey. How to report a lost or stolen vehicle:
Check where you left it
It sounds obvious, but if your car is missing our first advice is always to double-check where you parked it. So often a missing car, presumed stolen, is exactly where the owner left it – they simply forgot.
Many cars these days come with GPS trackers to locate them if they're lost or stolen. If this is the case for your car, please contact your dedicated tracking service before contacting us – if the car genuinely appears to have been stolen they'll usually contact us on your behalf.
Contact TRACE
The second most common reason for a missing vehicle is that it's been removed by the council for illegal parking.
TRACE is the locating service for any vehicle that has been towed away by any council in London. TRACE can advise which pound the vehicle has been moved to and the procedure for release.
Unless you have reason to believe your car has been stolen, please complete the TRACE online form or call TRACE on 0300 077 0100 (textphone 0300 123 2050).
Contact DVLA if your vehicle was untaxed
If your vehicle did not have valid tax, it might have been removed and taken to a pound by NSL, a wheel-clamping company that works on behalf of the DVLA. Find out how to get your vehicle back from a DVLA pound.
If you believe that your vehicle has been stolen, Report it:
https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/lsv/report-lost-or-stolen-vehicle/
 We know that people can be concerned about the personal and financial impact of having their vehicle stolen, which is why we will pursue and arrest those who break the law. Please consider taking the following steps to keep your vehicle safe: 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 its 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. Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you don’t 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. | 
