Residents in a Nottingham suburb have shared their concerns after a spate of crime incidents. Clifton Police have issued a warning to residents across Clifton and the Silverdale area after receiving multiple reports of cars being entered whilst unlocked and items being stolen.
It is understood that these incidents are happening in the early hours of the morning between 3am and 4am. In a Facebook post, Clifton Police stated: "We have had numerous reports in the Silverdale area of cars being entered whilst unlocked and items being removed.
"Please try to remember to lock your car and remove all valuables from it. We are also encouraging residents from Silverdale and Clifton to report these incidents happening so we can narrow down the time scales and pick up further patrols.
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"The incidents are believed to be happening between 03:00am-04:00am. If you have any CCTV of anything like this occurring please do not hesitate to contact 101 so the Beat Team are able to make contact with you about viewing and obtaining this CCTV."
Since the incidents have occurred, a number of residents have expressed concerns over gadgets being used to unlock cars by catching the signal and others are taking precautions to keep their vehicles safe. Retired Grace Fearn, 85, has lived on the Silverdale estate all her life.
She said: "I'm not worried about it, but I'm in a really prominent position on the street. I have had my car stolen a couple of times since I lived here but that was a long time ago."
When asked if it was concerning that the thefts were happening in the area, Grace replied: "Not really, as I have a son down the road and I've got my young granddaughter down the other road. We can do nothing about it, I just hope that it goes away." She added that she is surrounded by friends and family and feels safe in the area.
Grace explained: "I've lived here since it was built, it has a good sense of community and everyone is friendly and I've got good neighbours." A 35 year old secretary who did not wish to be named said: "I've not been affected, but it is concerning.
"Since it started happening we have been putting our keys in a metal tin when we are inside the house as they use those gadgets. We do it now every night without fail."
When asked about the thefts, retired Nelson Keen, 74, said: "We haven't had any issues, the only problem is a couple of weeks ago someone had a rock taken to their car and it was scratched all along it.
"It is concerning that this is happening but unfortunately there's not a lot we can do about it. We keep our keys safe in the cupboard so they are safe."
Nelson explained there have been similar incidents in the past, such as petrol caps being stolen, but said it was a group of incidents close together and then nothing for ages. He stated: "Going back over the years it sort of goes in spates, it's not a regular thing."
He added that if there were more officers in the area that carried out patrols, then that could be a good thing. A man in his thirties who did not wish to be named explained that he has also heard about the car break-ins.
He explained: "I have heard about it. We have CCTV that's directly staring at the cars and we have good lock systems on the cars.
"Nobody I know off has been affected, but I just know what we see in the group pages and that's it." When asked if there was enough security for the area, such as patrols, he said: "They have the ANPR cameras systems up but that does nothing as that's for cars driving and speed.
"We barely see the police and I think it's one of those where if people do see the police then they suddenly think something awful is happening."
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