MAYLANDS is one of the priority areas to be targeted as part of a three-month focus on stealing from cars in the Central Metropolitan District, according to Bayswater police officer-in-charge John Waghorn.
The district covers stations in Bayswater, Kiara, Perth and Wembley.
Senior Sergeant Waghorn said there were 18 incidents of stealing from cars from September 11-18.
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READ NOW“People are still leaving $10,000 to $12,000 worth of laptops and iPhones in vehicles parked and unlocked on the verge overnight,” he said.
“We are getting a significant amount of valuable property knocked off from within cars, including wallets and purses that contain credit cards, which are then used to conduct fraudulent PayPass transactions.”
Sgt Waghorn said officers had increased patrols, called victims for potential forensic evidence and serial numbers of stolen property, and performed leaflet drops.
“People are moving away from breaking into your home because they can steal the same items left in an unattended vehicle overnight with no risk of going to jail,” he said.
Sgt Waghorn said there was also a focus on stealing from cars in Bayswater, Mt Lawley, Inglewood and Bedford.
City of Bayswater South ward candidate and Maylands Ratepayers and Residents Association president Elli Peterson-Pik said if elected, he would advocate for the City to do more to prevent property crimes and upgrade street lighting.
Candidate Robyn Walsh said she would lobby State Government agencies to seek early intervention to reduce property crime.
Fellow candidate Kate Thomson said she would lobby for faster police attendance and development of a shop front design guideline for the Maylands town centre to increase surveillance.