THE NUMBER of car-related crimes in Woodford Green has almost doubled from this time last year.

According to the latest Metropolitan Police figures, 119 incidents of vehicle-related crime in Church End were recorded from January to August this year.

Over the same period last year, 66 incidents were logged.

Police recorded 87 reports of burglaries from January to August this year, with only 49 logged over the same period in 2016.

Michelle Vanlint, of Derby Road, Woodford Green, branded thieves “opportunists looking to make a quick buck to maintain their habits”, after she suffered at the hands of criminals.

Thieves broke into her car and stole car park change.

As a result, the 45-year-old has become more aware of others’ safety, resulting in more warnings being issued to alert others of dangers.

“We have become more wary as a result. It does make you think to remind kids not to use their phones in the street. Until someone alerts you to the threat you might not think about it.

“The people who do this want a quick buck to maintain their habits. I have no idea what goes through their minds.

“They are obviously not very nice people who don’t care about other people’s possessions. They need to get their own jobs and stop stealing other people’s stuff that they’ve worked hard for." 

Familiar forms of protection are more effective at combatting modern dangers.

Ms Vanlint said: “The old fashioned things work best when trying to protect yourself. A simple crook lock on your steering wheel makes your car a lot less appealing and more difficult to steal.

Ms Vanlint, a member of the Church End Safer Neighbourhood Panel for two years, said the groups aims to slash burglary and car crime rates.

The Panel, which meets four times a year, sets priorities for the Church End Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

Businesses and residents with an interest in the area make up the group. There are currently 10 members.

She urged residents to join Redbridge Online Watch Link (OWL) to support vulnerable members of the community.

A spokeswoman for The Met said: “We are aware of the issues concerning burglaries in the Church End area.

"There is a plan in place, which has been implemented for a few months now. Locally in Redbridge, officers have been conducting Operation Celtic, which is to be replaced by the Met wide campaign of Operation Be Safe, rolling out from this week. 

“Officers have been conducting proactive patrols, targeting hotspot areas using predictive mapping. There are daily taskings in place for uniformed officers to patrol burglary hotspots as well.

"They are utilising their stop and search powers, when the circumstances are justified, in an attempt to bring offenders to justice. 

“Crime reports are reviewed daily, informing officers of patterns such as similar methods in order to identify whether the suspect may be a known offender.

“Redbridge has seen a month by month improvement in these crimes, however officers are pre-empting the spike usually seen around the festive periods.

"Redbridge as a whole for vehicle crime and burglary, figures are down from this time last year.”

Click here to join OWL.