Car thieves in Derbyshire have been caught out by the latest weapon in the battle against car crime.

Using cars supplied by the Association of British Insurers, Derbyshire Police's "rat trap" vehicles automatically lock the doors once a car thief is inside to prevent escape. In the first three months of Operation Perpendicular, which ended in December, seven thieves were arrested breaking into the target vehicles. All were charged and are pending court appearances.

John Wagstaff, Manager of the Association's Crime & Fraud Prevention Bureau, said:

"Insurers pay out over £600 million each year for stolen cars or property stolen from vehicles, so any initiative which can help reduce this cost must be good news, not just for the industry but for all motorists. This operation shows what can be achieved when the industry and the police work together in tackling car crime."

Detective Constable John Banner of Derby Police, who headed the initiative, said:

"This is the first time we have tried this method but it works so well because it catches thieves red-handed. We use different makes of cars to trap car thieves and so they can never be sure which vehicles to target. We will be setting up other initiatives in the future to reinforce the message to car thieves that if they commit car crime they can expect to be caught."

Notes

1. Press enquiries to:
   
   For further information please contact Malcolm Tarling on 020 7216 7410 (Home 020 8297 9510) or John Wagstaff on 020 7216 7492.



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