AN average of one car has been stolen in the Tamworth area every second day this month, new figures from Oxley Police have revealed.
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Senior officers have urged community members to lock up their belongings with 10 cars reported stolen over the last three weeks.
Oxley police crime manager Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly is concerned that seven of those cars are still missing.
Police believe the cars could be used to commit other crimes.
As officers continue to track down the remaining cars they have revealed 11 car thefts were reported in July. But statistics show a downturn in crime with 25 cars stolen in April.
Among the missing vehicles are a motorcycle stolen from an East Tamworth home, a green Polaris all-terrain vehicle stolen from an Upper Horton property, a white Toyota hilux tabletop stolen from Jewry St and a Nissan Navara stolen from Kootingal.
“It’s concerning to me that a number of vehicles have been stolen across the command and not yet recovered,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.
“There is a possibility that those vehicles may have been or will be used in the commission of further offences.
“We ask members of the community if they have information about the location of these vehicles to please report them to their local police.”
Inspector O’Reilly said there was some evidence juveniles could be involved in some of the thefts.
He said new legal obligations had been bestowed on scrap metal dealers this year that would require them to report suspected stolen vehicles to police – potentially closing a “loophole.”
“A number of vehicles that have been stolen have been recovered locally soon after the theft,” he said. “The ones that have not yet been recovered may have left the area.”
He said car rebirthing, joy riding, or committing further offences were potential reasons for the spate of thefts in the area. He confirmed police had suspects for the theft cases but the key to stopping car theft was crime prevention.
“Community members can assist us to prevent the theft of their vehicles by taking a little bit more care with security,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.
“We do from time to time have vehicles reported stolen with keys still contained in them. Of these vehicles that have not been recovered. Three of those were stolen where break-ins occurred at properties.”
Anyone with information on these missing cars should contact Tamworth Police Station on 6768 2999
JULY 28-29: A white, 1995 Toyota Landcruiser tabletop was stolen from Crown St, West Tamworth. Registration: BC71JT
JULY 31- AUGUST 1:
*A white Toyota Landcruiser tabletop, stolen from Crown St West Tamworth between July 28 and July 29, 1995 model regestration: bc71jt
* A white Husqvarna Enduro 500 motorcycle was stolen from an East Tamworth address, it hasn’t been recovered and does not have any number plates on it. Police said the same motorcycle was stolen on July 4, but was recovered soon after.
AUGUST 2: A green Polaris all-terrain vehicle was reported stolen from a property at Upper Horton and has not yet been recovered.
AUGUST 6: A silver Nissan navara with West Australian number plates: 1EJW001 was stolen from Station St, Kootingal and has not been recovered.
AUGUST 11:
*A white Toyota Hilux was stolen from Jewry St in Tamworth. Registration: BZ38WE
*A white 2007 Holden Commodore was stolen from an Armidale Rd address. Registration: CVU06Y
AUGUST 13:
*A U-Haul box trailer with Queensland registration DC1808 was stolen from the Matilda's Service Station in Nemingha.
