MEDIA STATEMENT January 2002
Police look forward to working with the New Zealand Insurance Council on their information on trends on motor vehicle theft.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Long said Police are currently working on their own 2001 calendar year crime statistics that would be available in March.
"We endorse the Insurance Council’s call for motor vehicle owners and users to take greater care in protecting their property," said Mr Long.
"Police official crime statistics for the June years 1998/99, 1999/00 and 2000/01 show a significant decrease in vehicle thefts and thefts from motor vehicles while resolution rates in the case of vehicle thefts has increased from 13.2% to 19% over the same period."
Mr Long said Police take any form of theft seriously. But he emphasised the most effective way to counter the theft of motor vehicles was for vehicle owners to be more vigilant and take precautions such as ensuring the vehicle is locked and secure and to park the vehicle in a secure place.
"If people take these simple precautions it will go some way to help reduce the incidents of car theft and thefts from vehicles," said Mr Long.
ENDS