Spate of cars broken into Bellevue Hill, Woollahra, Paddington, Rose Bay and Bondi Beach

A SPATE of thieves breaking into cars which began in the inner city last month has filtered through to the east with vehicles in Bellevue Hill, Woollahra, Paddington, Rose Bay and Bondi Beach all targeted in the past couple of weeks.

All is not well in the east — have you locked your car? File photo. Picture: Brendan Francis

A SPATE of thieves breaking into cars which began in the inner city last month has filtered through to the east with vehicles in Bellevue Hill, Woollahra, Paddington, Rose Bay and Bondi Beach all targeted in the past couple of weeks.

The cars, some of which were unlocked, were rifled through by opportunistic thieves who spotted valuables through the windows.

Items stolen included cash, wallets, electronics and trade tools. Eastern Suburbs Crime Prevention Officer Senior Constable Jacqui Waserman said police were calling on the public to help put a stop to the uncharacteristic spike in criminal activity.

“The offences are occurring primarily during week days in the late afternoon and evening,” she said.

Steal from motor vehicle crime hot spot map for 2017-18 year. Courtesy of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Officers have increased their patrols in the wake of the break ins which come following a similar spike reported by Kings Cross police in Darlinghurst, Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and Woolloomooloo last month. In addition to an increase in local patrols police are asking residents to be extra vigilant about locking up, removing items from cars and where possible parking them in well lit areas. The spree is particularly unusual given statistics from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and research which show steal from motor vehicle offences are historically dropping in the Woollahra and Waverley Local Government Areas each year.

Data from last year shows steal from motor vehicle offences hot spots included Bondi, Centennial Park, Edgecliff, Paddington and Darling Point. Last financial year the Waverley area recorded 195 offences compared to 238 the year before.

It was the same story in Woollahra where the figures stood at 128 last year compared to 201 the year prior.

Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.