This Is Guernsey

By Aimee Le Cocq

Gemma de la Haye found a biro jammed into the ignition switch of her car and indicator arm broken after someone had broken into it. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0621786)

Gemma de la Haye found a biro jammed into the ignition switch of her car and indicator arm broken after someone had broken into it. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0621786)

ISLANDERS are being warned to be extra cautious when leaving their cars, after two vehicles were targeted at the weekend.

A Land Rover parked in the Vrangue and a Ford Fiesta in Pitronnerie Road were entered sometime on Saturday night, but were not discovered until the following morning.

Guy Rogers, 30, had left his keys in his Land Rover, believing the car to be safe. When he awoke the next morning he discovered that his car had been moved 10 metres.

‘I thought it had rolled back as it is parked on a slope, but it would have rolled onto the road.

‘The keys I left inside were gone as well.

Mr Rogers said that he did not hear anything as it was late at night and his road was usually quite noisy. He asked that the thieves return his keys to the vehicle as he said that it would save him unnecessary expense.

‘You don’t expect car theft in Guernsey. You still think you can get away with it, but clearly you can’t. It means I’ve lost a set of keys, which is disappointing.’

Gemma de la Haye also found that her car had been tampered with.

The 24-year-old went to her car on Sunday afternoon and found the indicator stick broken off and a biro stuck in the ignition.

‘I picked it up and thought “what’s that doing there?”. The glove box was open so I thought somebody had been in it. There was ink all over the ignition, which I got all over me.

‘The car is parked in a private space for all the houses in the clos, but it’s behind a wall so maybe the person thought they had a bit of privacy as no one would have seen them behind the road.’

Mrs de la Haye said she thought the car was locked as it has a remote system.

‘I think it’s just kids messing around. There was a box of DVDs in the back but they didn’t touch them.

‘I’m from Manchester. You come across this kind of thing quite a bit over there.

‘I had my car broken into plenty of times. I moved here because it was safe.’

Superintendent Ian Morellec from Guernsey Police said he was unsure whether the two incidents were linked.

‘The stealing of cars is a relatively uncommon concern in Guernsey.

‘It’s like a lot of crimes, they are avoidable if people secure their vehicles, lock the doors and keep valuables out of sight.

‘In Guernsey law to steal a car you would have to take it off the island to prove that you were permanently depriving the owner.

‘Vehicles in Guernsey eventually get recovered. We have the offence of driving without the drivers’ consent or attempting to.’

Police are investigating the incidents. Anyone with information should contact the police on 725111.

Article posted on 14th August, 2008 - 2.30pm