Bexley Residents Demand Police Action to Tackle Rising Car Thefts
Residents in Bexley are urging local police to step up efforts against car thefts
Bexley, Car Thefts, London, Crime, Police
Bexley: The car theft situation in Bexley is getting pretty serious. The crime rate here is three times the national average, and in London, a staggering 90% of these thefts go unsolved.
David Bowden, a local from Glenhurst Avenue in Bexleyheath, is feeling the heat. He’s noticed a spike in thefts lately and wants to see more police patrols to catch these thieves.
He mentioned, “There have been a lot of thefts in this area, mainly targeting expensive cars with keyless entry. Just recently, we heard about four or five cars getting stolen.”
It’s alarming! David pointed out that almost every car on his street now has a steering wheel lock. He feels like people can only do so much to protect their vehicles.
He added, “I think the police could do more to prevent it. You used to see patrols around here, but now it seems like they’re stretched thin.”
Maria, one of David’s neighbors, had her Mercedes stolen last October. She shared her experience, saying, “We reported it, and the police came to interview us, but later they just told us it was gone.”
She also mentioned that another neighbor lost their Range Rover around the same time, and it wasn’t recovered either. “The police did come back with leaflets on how to keep our cars safe, which was nice, but it’s still a huge issue here.”
Recent data from the Home Office shows that 90% of car thefts in London from February to June 2024 were classified as “unsolved.” Out of nearly 9,000 investigations, only 80 led to charges.
Peter Bleksley, a former police officer living in Bexley, expressed his frustration, saying, “If you’ve worked hard for a nice car, you might as well say goodbye to it here. The level of car crime is just awful.”
He noted that steering wheel locks are now common, as people are trying to add extra security to their vehicles. “We need officers out here, whether in uniform or plain clothes, to stop these thefts and catch the criminals.”
A spokesperson from the Met Police acknowledged the issue, stating, “Motor vehicle crime is a problem across London and the South East. In Bexley, we’re focusing on reducing these crimes and are investing in proactive operations.”
They also mentioned recent arrests related to car thefts and encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity. It’s clear that the community is looking for more support to tackle this growing problem.