Petrol stations in Eastwood will soon have up-to-the-minute crime information after Nottinghamshire Police and stations joined forces to form Garage Watch.
Broxtowe North officers will work with five participating garages as part of the initiative aimed at reducing forecourt crime.
The scheme will improve the manner in which evidence is gathered and reported to the police.
Garages will receive information about recent criminal activity, which have taken place at petrol station, in the area via a telephone warning system.
Therefore petrol drive offs, stolen credit cards or shoplifters, descriptions of suspects and any vehicle used will be reported to the police and circulated among the garages increasing the likelihood of criminals being captured.
PCSO Derek Kershaw of Eastwood South Safer Neighbourhood Team, set up the scheme. He said: “This new partnership between the police and local garages will raise awareness on the garage forecourt with incidents being reported to the police and circulated across Eastwood within minutes of it taking place.
“This initiative will not only benefit the local businesses but will assist the police with a wide variety of enquiries and has the potential to benefit the whole community by lowering crime and helping to make our roads safer.”
Each garage will be given a folder, which contains crime reduction advice, and workbooks, which will make it easier for staff to record accurate descriptions of the offender. This information is then circulated through the network, which will help other garage workers identify any suspects. It will be also be important to the investigating officer should a crime be committed.
