Steering wheel thefts in Wakefield spark police warning

The vehicles targeted were BMW and Mercedes and officers say that although it's a new crime trend in the Wakefield district, they are wanting to raise awareness and offer advice to try and prevent this type of crime.

Open source research shows that thieves steal these items to remove and sell the airbags or to sell as a complete unit.

Police are now offering this advice:

How can this be prevented?

If you have a garage use it. Lock your vehicle in the garage, out of sight.

A steering wheel lock - It’s a visual deterrent that adds an extra layer of security. Look for locks that are Sold Secure tested or Secured by Design (SBD) approved. Some locks have added alarms.

Park in a safe, well lit area.

If you have CCTV or a video doorbell make sure it covers your vehicle on the driveway. Most of these work on motion detection and alerts can be sent to your mobile phone to alert you of motion.

Double check that your vehicle is locked every time you leave it.