Victims of car crime have had the chance this week to have their vehicles examined by experts at a special "car surgery" to help track down Oxfordshire's car vandals.
- A five year-old vehicle is more likely to be stolen than a new vehicle.
- An 11 or 12 year-old vehicle is 14 times more likely to be stolen than any other vehicle.
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These surgeries have been held because people rely on their cars and cannot be without them for too long, often getting their car repaired immediately after the crime. This has resulted in many criminals getting away "scott free". As a remedy to the situation, Oxford City Council's Redbridge Park and Ride site has been offered as a car surgery base where cars can be examined between 08:30 and 09:30 by Volume Crime Scene Examiners.  We have been aware for some time that many people are having their vehicles repaired before being examined by a crime scene examiner and offenders are not being detected. | | Maria O'Brien |
At the moment, Oxford Police has nowhere to perform these kinds of examinations and are concerned that this type of forensic evidence isn't being picked up from the crime scene. In the longer term, Oxford Police is hoping to get funding to provide a permanent home for the examination of vandalised and burgled cars. Burglars often target older cars in their search for valuables. In fact, an 11 or 12 year-old vehicle is 14 times more likely to be stolen than any other vehicle according to John Mulloy of the Cowley Road Police Station. Inspector Stephen Cook of Oxford Police said: "The reduction of autocrime is an important priority for the police and we believe that creating such an opportunity to examine more vehicles will increase our chances of identifying those responsible. What do you think of car crime in Oxfordshire? Do you own a vehicle that is over five years old? Has it been broken into? Have you been the victim of car crime in the past year? BBC Oxford wants to hear from you.
 or telephone our special Crime Cracking line on
01865 889 045
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