Spate of car thefts in Ashford

Ashford residents are being warned to be on their guard following several reports of vehicles being stolen from driveways.

Over the last two weeks, several vehicles have reportedly been stolen from outside homes and officers are urging people to protect themselves against criminals by not leaving car keys on view.

The most recent incidents occurred on Monday 24 October 2022 in Willesborough. During the early hours a BMW 520D Sport and a Mercedes GLC 220 were taken from separate driveways.

Inspector Ben Howard from the Ashford Community Safety Unit said: ‘Burglars are opportunist thieves, who will be on the lookout for easy properties to target.

‘Residents can help to protect themselves by making sure keys, cash and expensive items are not visible from outside their homes.

‘It is also important to store electronic car keys in a signal blocking pouch so they can’t be scanned by criminals. Other ways in which people can protect themselves against thieves include double-locking uPVC doors and windows, and using timer switches on lights and radios to make it look as though someone is home.’

Anyone with information about any of these offences is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289. Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111, or complete the online form