A community have voiced their fears after a string of car thefts that left neighbours concerned. People living in Sneinton said they now check if they have locked their vehicles a number of times before going to sleep.
It comes after a rise in car thefts in the area. Nottinghamshire Police have encouraged motorists "to be vigilant" amid a string of crimes in Sneinton and St Ann's including car thefts and stolen number plates.
On other occasions, items such as a handbag and laptop were stolen from inside vehicles, the force confirmed. Maz Adams, of Dale Grove, said he had a similar incident in April.
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The 25-year-old, who works in customer service, added: "It is partly my fault because I left the car unlocked. But I was not expecting this."
Mr Adams claimed what appeared to be an alleged suspect was caught on video earlier this year. Mr Adams said he reported the incident to the police. He added: "There was a mess in the morning in the car. It was some change missing.
"Luckily I did not leave any cards or documents. I left some change, but that was it. Now I check if the car is locked four times before going inside. It is really bad."
Abid Salim, a taxi driver living on the same road, said he was aware of the recent incidents. The 40-year-old added: "It is happening quite a lot in Sneinton. I heard neighbours who had things missing from their cars.
"It is causing a lot of trouble in the community. Many people got video rings to make sure they have got evidence if it is happening to them."
A 58-year-old taxi driver, who lives in the area but asked not to be named, added: "It has never happened to me, but I am aware of it. I will get myself a video ring as well. It is worrying because it happens quite a lot around here. It is scary for this community."
In a post on social media, PC Aleksander Chodowski, of the St Ann’s response team, said: “We will not tolerate this type of offending and we thoroughly investigate reports of vehicle crime. While our enquiries into recent thefts remain ongoing we’re also urging residents to be vigilant and make it as difficult as possible for criminals to target their vehicles.
"They should ensure they are locked and any valuables are removed or kept out of sight. Where possible ensure that your vehicle is parked on your driveway or in your garage if you have one. Alternatively, ensure your vehicle is parked in a well-lit area. Having an alarm and immobiliser fitted to your vehicle is also an effective way of deterring criminals.
“We're also urging local residents to report any suspicious people or vehicles to us immediately by calling 101. If an incident is in progress call 999.”
