CAR crime soars when the clocks go back and the nation is plunged into early evening darkness – with a rise of more than 50 per cent during the four weeks following the start of winter time.

Replacement windows for targeted vehicles – 90 per cent of which are smashed by thieves – increase by an average of 55 per cent immediately after the end of British Summer Time.

Lloyds TSB Autolease, one of the UK’s largest fleet funding and management companies, is warning all those likely to be affected to be prepared.

Spokesman Marcus Puddy, says: “When the clocks go back and it gets darker earlier, criminals use the twilight as an opportunity for theft. Many people suddenly find that they do not leave work until after dark so criminals are free to target the large number of vehicles left unattended in unlit car parks.

“The majority of these crimes are opportunistic smash-and-grab attacks where the thief sees a handbag, laptop or a mobile phone on a car seat and they break the window.”

(this article was taken from motors-merseyside.co.uk)

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