Car thieves targeting parcel shelves instead of whole motors in new crime wave

A new crime wave is sweeping through upmarket residential areas of north London - thieves stealing parcel shelves from parked cars at night.

Residents of Primrose Hill, Kentish Town and Highgate have woken in recent months to find their car's rear windscreens broken and parcel shelves missing. The items are believed to be targeted because they are quick to remove and can fetch up to £150 when sold online.

A 37-year-old Highgate resident, who asked to remain unnamed, says his Mercedes was broken into at around 5.30am on July 12. He claims the thefts are particularly common on North Hill, View Road and Church Road, occurring regularly on Friday nights.

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The resident said: "I got a notification to my phone saying that my car had been broken into. They smashed the windscreen and only took the parcel shelf. I subsequently found out that some of the neighbours had been through the same."

He continued: "I took my car into the garage to get it fixed on the same day, and the gentlemen said that he had four of my style of car with the same issue. He said that people were selling parcel shelves on eBay, and they were going out on a steal-to-order basis. They go and smash in the rear-view glass and steal the parcel shelves to sell them on. We believe they are using Lime bikes, smashing the windows and riding off."

Other cars in the area reported to have been targeted include Hyundais, Minis, Jaguars and Vauxhalls.

Locals now say they are removing and hiding their shelves indoors at night as replacements can cost hundreds of pounds.

The anonymous resident added: "It is always shocking to hear these things, but it doesn't surprise me. It is not only parcel shelves that people do these things with. Two weeks after my car was hit two of the neighbours were hit. I now keep my parcel shelves in the house. We felt it was safer to bring them in. All the neighbours are keeping watch for them."

The Metropolitan Police posted about the thefts on MetEngage, an online service that provides updates and information on local crime.

The post states: "Having personal items stolen from your vehicle is an upsetting experience and we are determined to find and arrest those who break the law. Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you do not have access to one, try to park in a well-lit open space. Try to use public car parks that are part of the police approved Park Mark safer parking scheme."

The Highgate Society, a local residents' association "established for the public benefit", said: "There has been a spate of recent thefts in the North Hill area. Five times in three weeks thieves have smashed the back windows of cars, mainly in daylight, and taken the parcel shelves. Presumably, this is to sell them online where prices are considerably less than the manufacturers' price."

It added: "It is sensible to park in sight of a camera, if available, and one possible way to beat the current spate could be to keep parcel shelves indoors for a few weeks and of course not to leave anything valuable in your car."