Land Rover thefts warning to Shropshire owners
Thefts of Land Rovers are on the rise across Shropshire, according to police.
Officers said the iconic Defender models are particularly at risk of being stolen, as well as just the bonnets, doors and headlights which are then resold on the second hand market.
Police have issued warnings to owners to be on guard against thieves.
It comes after two vehicles in Hinstock and Newport were targeted last month.
During one incident the bonnet was stolen from a Land Rover Defender 4x4 parked in the Beaumaris Road area of Newport.
And a week before that the doors were removed from two Land Rover Defenders parked at a yard in Hinstock.
The offenders were disturbed by the owners returning home and left empty-handed.
Constable Lee Thomas of West Mercia Police's safer neighbourhood team for Newport and Donnington, said: "The Newport area covers a vast rural sector with a large farming community and many people living a country lifestyle, a lot of whom use Land Rovers as their everyday vehicles.
"We ourselves have seen several vehicle thefts and more thefts from vehicles in the past couple of months.
"Unfortunately, these vehicles, being as iconic and expensive as the are, are prize pickings for criminals who already have established ways of disposing of both the vehicles and parts they steal.
He added: "It's not at all uncommon to try and export these vehicles and parts to developing countries where the market for them is huge.
"We would always encourage owners of any high value vehicle to consider installing advanced security features such as a tracking device which makes it much easier for police and border officials to locate the car should anyone try and take it overseas.
"Owners could also take advice from local Land Rover clubs, magazines and internet forums with regards to other tried and tested methods of making their vehicles more difficult to steal and less desirable to thieves."
Anyone with information regarding these type of thefts should call police on 101. Alternatively, information can be passed free and anonymously via the CrimeStoppers charity on 0800 555111.
