ADDICTS FUEL JUMP IN CAR BREAK-INS

Drivers Warned Not To Make Themselves Targets During The Holiday Season

Police are blaming Victoria's drug problems for a spike in thefts from
vehicles.

Addicts in Victoria are paying for drugs by breaking into vehicles, either
in parkades or on the street, and stealing cash or small items which can
easily be sold, Victoria police acting Insp. Les Sylven said yesterday.

"This is all about addictions. All that's happening behind this, is people
trying to fuel their addictions," he said.

Typically, thieves break a window and go for loose change in the coffee cup
holder or ashtray, Sylven said.

"We get people saying 'Hey, they left my tennis racket and they left my
stereo, but they took my change," he said.

"We have a huge problem with theft from autos in Victoria."

Solving all Victoria's addiction problems is not in the cards, so police
are throwing extra resources at the break-in problem, Sylven said.

Bait cars, extra police presence, crime-watch volunteers and electronic
surveillance in parkades will all be used to try to catch thieves,
especially as break-ins usually increase as Christmas approaches.

However, vehicle owners must also take responsibility, Sylven said.

People tempt thieves by leaving cash, gifts or other items in sight, keys
in the car or windows open, he said.

If you are not going to keep a pit bull in your vehicle, take gifts home
before going out for a meal or doing more shopping, he advised.

"We have bait cars. Don't make yourself into a bait car."

"When you're about to throw that big toy from Toys R Us in the back of your
car, just think about it.

"This is something people can do something about."

When police see break-ins spike in a particular area, extra surveillance
and bait cars are brought in,

But, almost always, the problem then shifts to a neighbouring area, Sylven
said.

James Bay, Esquimalt and downtown are the current break-in hotspots.

In the downtown area there were 743 auto break-ins in 2004, 689 last year,
and there have already been 761 from January to October this year.

In James Bay the numbers are on a steady climb -- 168 in 2004, 272 last
year and 345 until October this year.

In Esquimalt there have been 280 break-ins, compared to 246 last year.

However, some areas are seeing a respite from broken windows and missing
change.

Fairfield is down to 290 to October this year, from 418 last year, and
South Jubilee has halved its break-ins to 36 from 73.