Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

At least five vehicles are stolen daily, and as the summer deepens, the police are advising car owners to be extremely protective of their vehicles during the holiday season.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Norman Hamilton said that with the many tactics currently being employed by car thieves motorists must be wary of their surroundings.

"This is the time when persons usually rent cars, be careful of who you rent your car to," DSP Hamilton said.

Several car stealing rings

Head of the Stolen Motor Vehicle Unit, DSP Hamilton said that the car-stealing criminal network spreads across the country with several car-stealing rings operating out of the Corporate Area.

"When selling a car persons must also be careful of whom they give their car to for test-driving," he said.

Over the next couple of months those traversing through the major airports should take precaution, as car thieves also prowl these places, DSP Hamilton told The Gleaner.

"At the airport persons are posing as workers of the car park, stealing cars. Some of the thieves are even walking with a duplicate key," he said.

Police statistics show that between January and May 2007, 856 vehicles were stolen. Of that number, 52 drivers were carjacked. In 2006, more than 2,400 vehicles were stolen.

Vehicles such as Hondas and Toyotas are being targeted because of the demand for their parts, the police said.

"Always know your licence plate number and thatof your friends, as this assists when we are tracking a stolen vehicle," DSP Hamilton said.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com

Toyota - 419
Hondas - 171
Nissan - 136 Mitsubishi - 61
Suzuki - 14
Mazda - 8
Others - 62