Victims don't notice work of tidy thieves

Thieves are so tidy while breaking into cars that the victims often don't immediately realise they have been robbed, Christchurch police say.

Inspector Gary Knowles said there were 22 thefts from cars reported in the central city on Tuesday night - but the actual figure may be higher.

A common trick was to remove only one leaf from the centre of a cheque book, or to take one credit card, leaving everything tidy.

"One woman last week was in at Central Police Station reporting the theft from her car while at the same time the offender was trying to cash her cheque in town," he said.

"Offenders are aiming at a quick turnaround before the theft is realised and reported."

Reports from recent weeks showed a trend for offenders to ignore more traditionally targeted items, such as stereo gear, and concentrate on cards and other items, which they could "turn over more quickly".

It was "easy to overlook one missing cheque", and then people might not bother to report the theft because it was less than the excess on insurance.

"It can take a while before you realise that anything has been taken."

Police advise car owners to: lock up cars carefully; park in a well-lit area; take valuables with them or hide them before parking and notify police if they see anyone hanging around.

"The colder nights that make people draw their curtains and stay inside are helping burglars in that there are less people around to see and hear them," Mr Knowles said.

Three alleged offenders were caught last night, all males, aged 15, 17 and 19 years old.

Last week, a 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with a number of thefts from cars in the inner city and for presenting a stolen cheque.

Another was charged with presenting a stolen cheque, and a third with receiving stolen property.

- NZPA