With Christmas just a few days away, people’s minds are on last minute shopping, spending time with their loved ones and generally having a relaxing and having an enjoyable time.

There is however, a minority, who have crime on their mind, thieves, who are looking for any easy opportunity to steal.

This time of year traditionally see’s an increase in car crime, extra resources and operations are already in place in the City and there have been some significant arrests. These operations will continue through the Christmas period and into the New Year.

The Crime and Drugs Partnership and all our partners would like to appeal to all the communities of Nottingham and to remind everyone of some crime prevention advice which should ensure that less of us become victims of crime and that the criminal minority go without this Christmas.

• Never defrost your car whilst leaving it unattended, even if it’s on your drive at home
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• Never leave your keys in the ignition whether you’re at a petrol station or briefly stepping out your car.
• Never leave any valuables in your car, even for a few moments.
• Car thieves break into houses to steal car keys, always keep yours out of reach and out of view.
• Some people will be receiving Sat Nav’s as gifts; these are a favourite with the thieves! Always remove the Sat Nav and its holder and wipe off any mark that might have been left on the dashboard or window screen.
• Whenever possible always park your car in a secure and well lit location.

Alan Given, Chief Executive of the Crime and Drugs Partnership said,

"Thieves don’t have a conscience, they don’t care how their actions might affect the rest of us, they have purely selfish motives and absolutely no moral scruples, these thieves view Christmas as a time of opportunity, an opportunity to steal.

These thieves are cowards and they are constantly looking for an easy target, a vulnerable target, a moment when we might drop our guard, or when we least expect it.

We will continue to use everything in our power to catch and convict these thieves and take them out of our communities. But as a community, together we need to make their lives as difficult as we can.

By remembering some basic crime prevention advice whether it’s in relation to keeping our homes as secure as we can, or by making sure that we never leave valuables in our cars we can deny them the opportunity. The season of goodwill doesn’t extend to the criminal minority, let’s make sure these thieves don’t enjoy Christmas at our expense."