Campaign hits back against car crime

By Rebecca Fraser
A NEW initiative is helping Casey’s car theft victims bounce back.
Operation Bounce Back is a joint initiative between the City of Casey, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) and Victoria Police.
It aims to reduce and prevent the theft of vehicles within the municipality.
More than 700 vehicles were reported stolen in the City of Casey during 2005, with approximately 73 per cent of these vehicles being manufactured prior to 1992 and not fitted with vehicle immobilisers.
Operation Bounce Back is a specific initiative of the NMVTRC and is designed to raise awareness about vehicle security and assist theft victims to get on with their lives.
It recognises the success of local government in promoting education messages to its communities and promotes the benefits of fitting vehicle immobilisers.
Under the program, Victoria Police will write to owners of pre-1999 vehicles which were reported stolen from the City of Casey during 2005. These owners will be offered a free immobiliser, including fitting, valued at about $200.
Up to 100 free vehicle immobiliser packages are available and all the owners have to do is complete the application form and return it direct to the City of Casey community safety officer by the due date.
Acting Senior Sergeant from Narre Warren police Daleen Spicer said anything that helped decrease theft of motor cars was a positive approach.
“The more avenues available to us that we can utilise to decrease theft of motor cars the better,” she said.
Owners will be sent a letter of authority to produce to their nominated installer.
Three Local NMVTRC car safe installers who operate within the City of Casey are participating in this scheme and all provide a mobile fitting service.
Stephen Hofferts, managing director of Steve’s Car Alarms in Narre Warren, praised the initiative.
“This is a good one.
“Statistics show that if cars are stolen and broken into once they have double the chance of being stolen again.
“Hopefully we can stop it.
“This initiative will benefit local business, council and the police.
“There are really no losers,” he said.
In addition to giving away free immobilisers to victims of car theft in Casey, the initiative also encourages and promotes the fitting of vehicle immobilisers to high risk vehicles, namely vehicles that were manufactured before 1999 and which are not already fitted with a vehicle immobiliser.
The Operation Bounce Back initiative will be promoted at a number of local events including the Berwick Show at Akoonah Park on the weekend 25-26 February, the Commonwealth Games Carnival on Saturday, 4 March at the Old Cheese Factory and the Microchipping Day at the Narre Warren Civic Centre on Saturday, 1 April.
At each event there will be a chance for the owner of any pre 1999 vehicle which is not already fitted with an immobiliser, to enter the competition to win one free.
The Operation Bounce Back initiative, which will run between February and June will also include information displays at local shopping centres and railway stations and again, include the opportunity to win free immobilisers.