Car break-in demo shocks students >vid
In just five seconds, a thief smashes a car window before running off with the belongings he finds inside.
Fortunately, this incident was not real.
It was a demonstration organised for sixth form students at Longcroft School and Performing Arts College in Beverley.
An officer posing as a would-be thief used a sharp object to smash a car window and grab a handbag left on the passenger seat of the car.
The enactment in the school's car park was part of Operation Rapture, a campaign to reduce the number of thefts from vehicles.
It was the first demonstration of its kind in the East Riding and one that officers hope will tackle the problem.
Figures from January this year showed a 23 per cent increase in thefts from vehicles in the East Riding on the previous year.
In the past nine months alone, there have been 1,050 thefts from vehicles in the region.
Detective Gavin Orsborne, who is overseeing the initiative, said: "The statistics show people are not getting the message and continue to leave things on display.
"Young people in particular, who have maybe recently got a car or borrowed their parent's car, are being targeted.
"We want to raise awareness of the opportunities people are giving to would-be thieves."
Student Joe Bird, 17, who watched the demonstration, said: "It was crazy. We saw this guy break into the car and there was glass everywhere.
"I'm not driving yet, but when I do get a car I will be more conscious about leaving things inside.
"This is a good way to get the message over. It was just bang and then he had gone back to wherever he came from."
Kayleigh Cooper, 17, who also witnessed the "break-in", said: "He smashed the window so quickly. It showed how much damage could be done in that amount of time.
"If it was your car, it would be so upsetting.
"I am at an age where I am thinking about driving and now I will make sure my car is locked, everything is hidden and my valuables are with me."
7 Comments
by Matthew, Hull
Thursday, March 12 2009, 1:01PM
“I'm sorry - have i missed something......so we are now teaching our teenagers to break into cars...........YEAH RIGHT!!!!.........like they didnt know how to do that before.....
Step1 - Pick up brick
Step2 - Find car you want to break in to
Step3 - Throw brick at window of car
Hey Presto job done........
If anything this exercise is going to make new car drivers to be aware of leaving valuables ( and indeed non valuables) on show to tempt would be theives”
by sam, hull
Thursday, March 12 2009, 12:30PM
“it annoys me that people are suggesting that teenagers will be breaking into cars. they are teaching them before they get cars as im sure some of them will be 17 or 17 very soon. my car was broken into nothing stolen but it was a 30 odd year old man ON DRUGS!! as well what a suprise!!!”
by Bimty, Right here
Thursday, March 12 2009, 10:48AM
“Amazed + Gemma the exercise was shown to responsible teenagers (of car driving age and some who have cars) who are in the sixth form so are clearly not chavs looking to break into cars. These are the responsible, sensible young adults of the future who are looking to get the best education they can now. I think it's brilliant the Police are demostrating this to the decent teenagers out there who will work hard to get the things they want in life not just rob them off an innocent person.”
by Matt, Beverley
Thursday, March 12 2009, 10:32AM
“These were Sixth Formers who DO own cars, use their parents' cars or are learning to drive. It was a Year 12 Group, therefore all were 16 or 17 years old.
As such, they are of college age, as Gemma suggest. This was a very focused session, with the police fully aware to whom they were targeting.”
by Gemma, Hull
Thursday, March 12 2009, 10:02AM
“I do not see the point with this demonstration being shown to teenagers at school. They do not own a car, all this exercise does is show them how to actually break into one. I am very concerned as I do own a car and I am not happy knowing this is being shown to teenagers. If the police wanted to campaign the fact that you shouldn't leave valables in a car. Why not target young students at university or college who will probably be car owners. This was a very pointless exercise by the police, who did not think this through.”
by voxpop, Hull
Thursday, March 12 2009, 9:04AM
“Amazed, Hull - did you read the two comments from the students in the article? No, I thought not.
The criminally minded already know that something left on display in a car on a quiet street or car park can be stolen by smashing the window. But thanks for your contribution.”
by Amazed, Hull
Thursday, March 12 2009, 8:09AM
“Basically the Police demonstrated how to break into a car to teenagers.
Brilliant”