Residents in affluent London suburbs are being urged to take precautions after a surge in thefts targeting car parcel shelves. Thieves are smashing rear windscreens to steal the shelves, which are then sold on secondhand sites for up to £150.
The thefts have been reported in Primrose Hill, Kentish Town, and Highgate, with victims waking to find broken glass and missing shelves. One Highgate resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said his Mercedes was targeted at around 5:30am on July 12. He claims thieves are using Lime bikes to carry out the crimes, primarily on Friday nights in areas like North Hill, View Road, and Church Road.
The 37-year-old victim told the Daily Mirror: 'I got a notification saying my car had been broken into. They smashed the windscreen and only took the parcel shelf.' He later learned that neighbours had similar experiences, and a garage reported four cars of the same model with identical damage. Other vehicles targeted include Hyundais, Minis, Jaguars, and Vauxhalls.
Locals are now hiding their parcel shelves indoors overnight to deter thieves. The anonymous resident added: 'I now keep my parcel shelves in the house. All the neighbours are keeping watch.' The Metropolitan Police have advised parking in well-lit areas or secure car parks, and the Highgate Society suggested keeping shelves indoors until the spate ends.
