Residents angry after appeal for witnesses to beauty spot vehicle break-ins

AN appeal for information about a suspicious car following thefts from vehicles at local beauty spots, has led to some local residents criticising both the police and government cuts, and demanding action from their MP.

In an appeal today, the Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team reported: “We have received reports of thefts from vehicles at local beauty spot car parks over the weekend in the Chinnor, Lewknor, Watlington and Cowlease areas. A silver Peugeot was seen at one of the locations and is believed to have stolen plates fitted. Did you see (the) silver car or any other suspicious vehicles or people? Please call us on 101.

“When you visit beauty spots think about what you really need to take with you on your trip and whatever you do take please do not leave in the car – take it with you and review your vehicle security.”

What can be done to stop the thieves?

However, a Chinnor resident, commenting on the Chinnor Residents Group Facebook page, was less than impressed with the Police’s message, and posted: “Are they kidding? Don’t leave anything of value in the car and review your cars security!!!

“It’s the same people with the same method every time, they smash the windows in! They don’t know if there is anything of value in the car until they have broken in so leaving it at home won’t stop you being a victim!

“And short of fitting bullet proof glass or steel shutters every time you park what can you do to stop them? What the police could do is put a bait car there and catch the little s—–s who are doing this!”

‘Blame the cuts!’ says one resident after one vehicle owner traumatised

It was reported on the same Facebook page that a man returning to his car, and finding the would-be thieves in the middle of their criminal act in the car park of one of the beauty spots, was taken to hospital by ambulance after suffering a panic attack. The man, apparently, had only just been discharged from hospital.

Another resident called for people to email the local MP John Howell about the incident, adding in his (the resident’s) post: “After all they have caused the cuts in Policing funding by reducing money to councils; the usual ploy whereby they can blame councils and councils can blame the Government.” The same resident added: “While money is wasted on vanity projects like HS2 that adds nothing for 99.99% of the population, the countryside has become a crime hotspot.”

Thames Valley Police have recently stepped up patrols at local beauty spots. Anyone who has any information about these or any other suspected crime, can contact the charity Crime Stoppers in complete anonymity. https://crimestoppers-uk.org