Vehicle security warning for Wintec
Park carefully – thieves have been targeting cars around Wintec over the past two weeks.
Wintec staff and students are being warned not to leave valuables in their vehicles after a spate of smash and grabs.
About 20 cars have been broken into over the last fortnight, in various areas around the city campus, including the parking building.
The Wintec security team has increased its patrols in response.
Security officer Laurie-Anne Giles said offenders were caught on camera, and the police had been given the name of a suspect.
The offenders were thought to be young, and it was hard to know what time they were striking as many break-ins were only reported when the owner went back to their car at the end of the day.
But reports to security about suspicious activity indicated break-ins may be happening between one and three o’clock in the afternoon.
“Most of it seems to be happening in broad daylight.”
Giles said the thieves were after anything that was worth money.
One student lost a laptop, expensive GPS system, and sunglasses when his car was targeted, although other cars had been broken into and had nothing taken.
Giles advised people to park in well-lit areas where there was lots of foot traffic, and to avoid leaving valuables in the car.
“Don’t leave anything visible because that’s just tempting them,” she said.
Students also had problems in nearby parking spots like the K-Mart carpark and Countdown carpark, said Giles.
