LEAVING VALUABLES IN FULL VIEW in your car or van is an open invitation to thieves. IF THEY SEE IT, THEY'LL STEAL IT By taking a few simple precautions you can significantly improve your chances of not becoming a victim of this type of crime. It only takes 60 seconds when parking to protect your valuables and vehicle. It is not just the theft that impacts upon your life. There is the inconvenience in relation to time and additional cost you may experience as a consequence of the theft. For example, having to make time to report the loss or damage to your insurers, the possible increase in the cost of next year's insurance premium, getting the broken car window or lock replaced, being deprived of the use of the stolen item until it can be replaced and the emotional stress of the whole incident. For the sake of 60 seconds you can help protect your valuables. In November 2004 the Community Safety Unit launched an information campaign to highlight the threat of theft from vehicles. It was originally targeted at Greater Belfast where the majority of thefts from vehicles occur ie in those areas covered by Belfast City Council, Castlereagh Borough Council, Lisburn City Council and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The campaign consisted of radio advertisements supported by bus shelter posters and a leaflet. An evaluation of the campaign showed that people recalled the campaign without prompting but more importantly 40% of those questioned said it had caused them to change their behaviour. In 2005 the campaign was revised and the radio ads were broadcast across Northern Ireland during a 6 week period. This phase of the campaign produced a similar impact to the earlier phase. We anticipate re-running the campaign in the future. |
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