In recent weeks four BMW owners in Medway have been victims of theft, with car windows smashed and steering wheels stolen.
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00:00 It happened in the blink of an eye. Within 10 seconds a man from Waterslade had his car
00:09 window smashed open and his steering wheel stolen.
00:16 His father Kevin recounted the moment this occurred last Monday.
00:20 In under 10 seconds, window smashed, steering wheel ripped out and the thieves have gone
00:26 in
00:44 a car crash.
00:46 A common piece of advice in keeping your vehicle safe and less susceptible to being a target
00:50 of crime is parking it under a street lamp at night time but this is the very spot that
00:55 his car was when this incident occurred and it was one of several steering wheel thefts
00:59 that all happened in this area in the same evening.
01:03 One local mechanic said he's had a number of people coming in who've also had their
01:06 steering wheel stolen.
01:08 I think going over the span of the last couple of months we've had four, five over our two
01:13 sites. They're after the M Sport wheels so obviously they seem to be quite popular whether
01:17 they're getting sold in the second hand market or not but it seems to be a big thing. If
01:21 you can deter them from it then fit a steering lock. If they look through the window, they
01:25 see a steering lock, they move on.
01:28 Kevin criticised BMW's safety feature which allows a steering wheel to collapse in the
01:33 case of an accident to prevent further injury.
01:36 BMW really need to take a look at this. They really do. I want to get some answers. I want
01:42 to know about this safety pin. I want to know how we can in future if the car gets fixed,
01:49 not just for me but other M Sport BMW owners, what would they recommend that we do to stop
01:56 it happening again.
01:57 BMW said they work in partnership with the police and other authorities in the UK and
02:02 around the world in responding to the latest threats and anticipating new ones.
02:07 Where vehicles are locked and secured appropriately, BMW customers should feel reassured that their
02:12 car is no more vulnerable to this kind of criminal theft than any other brand.
02:18 Crime can be reported to the police via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by calling them on 01634
02:26 79 2209. Emergencies should be reported on 999.
02:32 Sophia Akin for KMTV in Chatham.
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