Romsey: Range Rover stolen in the middle of the night from driveway
Range Rovers, a Mercedes, a truck and a doggy day care van were all stolen within the same night as well as a landscaping business van from Whitenap just a week before.
Sarah-Marie Baker’s Range Rover Sport was taken between 1.30am-2am on Thursday, April 6.
The car owner who lives near Romsey School is urging anyone who might have seen anything or has cameras that could have captured the thief to get in contact.
Sarah-Marie said: “I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder and am of course gutted. The car was locked on my driveway.
“I am hoping that I can get it back but trying to come to terms with it being gone. It is so upsetting that people do this, it was not only the car they took but also the children’s car seats and pushchairs that were in the car. “
The stolen grey Range Rover has the registration S222SXC and has been reported to the police.
The Romsey mother was told by officers that another six Range Rovers and a Mercedes were stolen that night and three more Range Rovers the previous night.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: “We received a report of a keyless Range Rover being stolen from outside a residential property in Priestlands between midnight and 8am on Thursday, 6 April.
“Officers carried out house-to-house enquiries in the area and spoke to the car owner but due to a lack of viable lines of enquiry the incident has been filed.
“These are reviewed and can be reopened should linked incidents or further evidence come to light.
“Anyone with information about this incident can report to us by calling 101 or reporting online quoting 44230135467.”
Others are sharing photos of their missing vehicles on the Facebook[2] page Romsey News and Information, asking people to share.
Group member Jackie Sorrell commented on Sarah-Marie’s post: “That’s about four or five in last three weeks. Land Rovers, Range Rovers and lorries and trucks have been stolen loads in the last month also targeting motor homes too so if u have a decent one of those get as many locks on as possible as they managed to get my friends lock of his tyre, got in and tried to get it started after smashing window and steering lock.”
SEE ALSO: Wrong road sign leads residents to think lane will be closed for 14 extra days[3]
A van, belonging to County Landscapes, is still missing after being stolen at the end of March from Pine Road in Whitenap.
Roz Elise, whose husband owns the van, posted on Facebook: “Please could you share this with as many people as possible. Van was double locked with an alarm and immobiliser yet they still managed to take it! Any information would be great. Please check CCTV in case it’s seen driving past. Taken between 11pm-7am, though most likely when street lights all went out from 1am.”
In response to the series of thefts, Hampshire Police has issued the following advice:
“Keyless car theft or ‘relay theft’ is when a device is used to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.
“Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home. This means that even if your car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal your car.”
How to protect your keyless entry car:
- When at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.
- Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag.
- Reprogramme your keys if you buy a second hand car.
- Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used.
References
- ^ Woman banned after caught drink driving near motorway (www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk)
- ^ Facebook (www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk)
- ^ Wrong road sign leads residents to think lane will be closed for 14 extra days (www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk)