Recent Theft of Volkswagens

Over the past week, two Volkswagen vehicles have been reported as stolen from residents' driveways.

27th July PEMBROKE AVENUE – At some point between 2300 (26/7) and 0500 suspects gained entry to property through an open window, stole the keys and then a grey VW TIGUAN from the driveway.

1st August CHILTERN DRIVE – At around 0240 a grey VW GOLF was stolen from driveway. Thieves entered the property through a front window (no sign of forced entry, victim believes the window was originally closed)

Please take extra care to close/secure front windows overnight. Call 999 immediately if you see anyone acting suspiciously around properties/vehicles, especially overnight.

Other potential vehicle theft prevention which you may want to consider

Signal Blocking: Keep your keys safe, out of view, and far away from the front door. Place key fobs inside a screened, signal-blocking pouch—such as a Faraday bag—and regularly test that it effectively blocks the signal.

Physical Deterrents: Consider using a heavy-duty mechanical steering wheel lock or fitting a lockable post/bollard to your driveway to physically obstruct a thief's exit path.

Vehicle Blocking: If your household has more than one vehicle, park a keyless or less vulnerable vehicle tightly behind the other to block its exit.

On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Protection: Consider fitting a physical lock or guard over your vehicle's OBD port to prevent thieves from plugging in equipment to program blank keys.

Home Visibility: Ensure your driveway is well-lit, ideally using motion-activated lighting, and ensure any home CCTV or video doorbells are fully operational.

While we are unable to recommend or endorse specific commercial security brands or products, but for a comprehensive list of security devices that have achieved official police security standards visit Secured by Design (SBD)  Sold Secure  Thatcham Research

We encourage residents to check their Ring doorbells, dashcams, and CCTV systems for any suspicious behaviour or unfamiliar vehicles loitering on your streets overnight. If you have any information about either of the two thefts last week, please contact Police via 101 or online at www.met.police.uk/ro/report/ 

To contact the team regarding any local non-urgent policing concerns, please email us directly at Berrylands@contact.metengage.co.uk.