- RAC Auto Windscreens Issues Alarm Call to Car Owners in the North West on Dark Winter Nights
-
- Photographs
and cartoon by the RAC.
AS 76% of all vehicle related crime occurs in the hours of darkness, RAC Auto Windscreens is urging motorists in the North West to be extra vigilant during the winter nights and avoid turning their cars into a shop window opportunistic thieves.
The alarm call comes as the company launches 'Nothing on Display', a campaign backed by the Home Office, which aims to encourage motorists to take their valuables out of the car in order to avoid becoming one of the reported 132,857 victims of vehicle-related crime every year in the North west. These statistics include Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
According to the RAC Report on Motoring, 1 in 10 motorists have had their car broken into or vandalised. After car parts and radios, valuables such as purses, wallets, cash, credit cards, CDs and clothes, were the most common items stolen (18%).
RAC Auto Windscreens is appealing to motorists to adopt an 'out of sight, out of mind' approach to crime prevention. Together with the Home Office, it has launched the 'Safe Sack', a drawstring bag designed to hold valuable items together so that they can be concealed in a handbag or briefcase before being removed from the car.
The 'Safe Sack' contains vital information on combating car crime and a list of essential security tips. A card which can be displayed on the dashboard to serve both as a reminder to motorists to remove their belongings and as a warning potential thieves that there is nothing left in the car that is worth stealing, is also included.
Hazel Blears, Home Office Minister says:- "Vehicle crime has fallen by 31 per cent since 1997. This is a tremendous achievement and the Government and police are working hard to bring crime levels down even further.
Drivers also have a vital role to play. They must always lock their car and never leave valuables on show. RAC Auto Windscreen's Nothing on Display campaign is an excellent way to ensure motorists help themselves and minimise their chances of being a victim of vehicle crime."
Last winter, RAC Auto Windscreens replaced over 50,000 side and rear windows, the majority of which were damaged as a result of a break in. managing director, Bill Duffy says:- "Over half of all car crime is opportunist and those who leave items on display in their cars are offering an open invitation for thieves to strike.
Motorists need to get into the habit of removing anything of value from their vehicle altogether, especially as the nights get darker as thieves will use the lack of light as a cover. Hiding things away just isn't good enough as thieves will often look in the boot or under the seat."
Duffy also warns that motorists should be more vigilant at all time, not just in city centre car parks, but anywhere they leave their vehicle:-
"The truth is that thieves wills strike anywhere that there is an opportunity. In fact, over a third of vehicle related crimes in the last 12 months occurred in street outside the home. The message is simple and applies wherever you leave your car - bag up your valuables or be prepared to lose them." 
Car Crime - The Facts The following figures have been provided by the Home Office and have been taken from the British Crime Survey 2002/2003;
· Last year, over 10% of vehicle owning households had their car broken into, stolen or vandalised
· Vehicle related crime now accounts for 20% of all crime in Britain
· The most common items stolen in thefts from vehicles were exterior fittings(32% of thefts), car radios (23%) and valuables (16%)
· The average loss incurred during thefts from vehicles where the vehicle itself was not stolen was £80
· The highest risk area for theft from a vehicle is Yorkshire and the Humber region. 6.8% of the population have had property stolen from their cars
· The lowest risk area is Wales where 5.4% of the population have been victims of theft from their vehicle
· Most vehicle related thefts occur in the area around the home (over a third) - although length of time that the vehicle is parked is a consideration
· 19% of those who had experienced vehicle related crime reported feeling emotionally affected
· since 1997, vehicle related crime (thefts and attempted theft from a vehicle and of a vehicle) have reduced by 26%
|
DO YOU WORK FOR THE BEST BOSS IN THE NORTH WEST? IF SO NOMINATE THEM FOR BEST BOSS 2004 DOES your boss rate or grate? Just under half (47%) of the North Western population say they aspire to being just like their esteemed leader, while a confident 53% believe they could do a better job than their boss. The research carried out by Lloyds TSB and Working Families marks the launch of the annual search to find the UK's best boss for 2004.
The difference in employee, employer relationships varies widely up and down the country. Over half (53%) of the people who live in the North West consider their boss to be a close friend more than an authority figure, over 20 per cent more than in London (31%).
While almost one in five say their boss is a bully and they work for the boss from hell, the figure drops in the South West with just 10 per cent using this description to talk about the one in charge.
People in Wales and the Midlands are most likely to have a dream boss who is an inspiration and a mentor, with more than one in five saying this is the case (22%). Twelve per cent of people in the North West also consider their boss to be a bit like the dreaded TV character, David Brent, an office joke who tries to hard to be one of the gang.
The research overwhelmingly reveals that despite the 'matey' approach displayed by some bosses, a majority of employees want a friendly but professional relationship with their boss (83%). Only six percent saw their boss as a personal confidante and twelve per cent wanted to socialise with their boss outside of work.
Fiona Cannon, head of equality and diversity at Lloyds TSB, who are acknowledged for introducing a number of modern working practices in the UK, explains,
"One of the keys to being a good boss is to understand the importance of work life balance. People work hard and they get fed up if their boss doesn't recognise that they have a life outside of work."
Sarah Jackson from Working Families agrees, "We're keen to hear from everyone who has a great boss. This competition celebrates the work of unsung heroes every where. Over the past four years, all sorts of people, doing very different jobs, have been entered. It doesn't cost a penny to nominate and you and your boss stand a chance of joining other finalists at the House of Lords for the celebratory lunch in June 2004. The UK's Best Boss will win £1000 of travel vouchers." LEGENDS TO SERVE AT LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL TENNIS
legends Ilie Nastase and Guillermo Vilas have signed up to play at the 2004 Liverpool International at Calderstones Park next summer.
The players, who have amassed between them a total of 114 singles and 60 doubles titles - including eight Grand Slams in Australia, Roland Garros and the US Open, will play a four men doubles legends event as part of the tournament and joined by eight other named ATP tour players.
As part of the city council's award winning tennis development program, local youngsters will be coached by professional players during the event and will also get the chance to play on centre court.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive member for Leisure and Culture, said:-
"Calderstones Park proved to be a fantastic venue for this event in 2002, and it looks as if the 2004 tournament will be bigger and better.
Ilie and Guillermo are two veterans of the game who have a fantastic reputation for playing entertaining tennis, and I'm sure there'll be more big name signings in the coming weeks and months. I am particularly pleased that youngsters are getting the chance to play a part in this event, as Britain desperately needs a future Wimbledon champion!" CROXTETH BOOKS EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT CROXTETH Library has re-opened following a massive facelift which has brought it into the 21st century.
It now boasts a new childrens section, more space for books and a 'Surfzone' where people can access state of the art computers with free internet, email spreadsheet and word processing facilities.
The refurbished building, which is located within Croxteth Sports Centre, has been re-carpeted and fitted with new furniture, and is the 10th in the city to be replaced or upgraded over the last four years.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, said:-
"Liverpool's libraries are recognised by the government as the best in the country because of the work we are doing to make them welcoming places to come and spend time.
This refurbishment has created a first class learning facility for both young and old in Croxteth, and the new computer suite will mean anyone can access the latest technology for free. It's a great early Christmas present for the local community!"
The city council's libraries service was awarded the government's prestigious Beacon Status in 2002, and their Charter Mark was recently successfully renewed. 
EMAIL
US YOUR NEWS & VIEWS TODAY
|
