A COUNCILLOR has warned residents to ensure their cars are not left unlocked after officers found 10 insecure cars parked in St Peter’s.

City councillor Roger Knight said car owners should not take the area’s low crime rate for granted because the “risk exists”.

PC Louise Steele and PCSO Sarah Hughes, of Nunnery and Battenhall SNT, spent an hour last Friday (March 22) trying car door handles in response to a spate of car break-ins in Warndon Villages last month.

Police said they received reports of nine incidents of cars being broken into overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday (March 13-14), including Purleigh Avenue and Wilberforce Place.

Some of the cars broken into had been left unsecure.

Cllr Knight, who represents St Peter’s on Worcester City Council, said: “It’s always a risk when you live in a nice area with such a low crime rate.

“You end up taking risks because it just doesn’t occur to people that it will happen.” He continued: “You just can’t take chances. We are not far from the motorway here and it’s easy to drop into St Peter’s and leave quickly. That risk exists and these things can happen.”

PC Steele and PCSO Hughes attended the ward as part of a crime prevention strategy.

They patrolled around Farne Avenue and surrounding roads on March 22, finding three unsecure vehicles within 20 minutes, and 10 after an hour – all parked on the roadside.

They also walked around Battenhall for an hour on March 23 but found no unlocked vehicles.

The pair had previously done the exercise on March 13 around Grasshopper Drive and surrounding roads.

One owner had left a handbag and mobile phone in the passenger foot well of the vehicle and another had kitchen equipment, amongst other things, left on show.

The owners were all spoken to and advised accordingly.

From watching CCTV of previous offences in St Peters, PC Steele said officers know the suspects will also quite happily try cars which are parked on drive ways too.

PC Steele said: “We accept that not every vehicle crime is as a result of a vehicle being left insecure, however, let’s not make it any easier for the suspects."

“The Safer Neighbourhood Team continue to issue advice on the best ways to secure their property and belongings. The area is also routinely patrolled by the team.”

For further advice on keeping your property secure, see the West Mercia Police website or contact the SNT at bn.snt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk or call 101.