Ford Joins Forces With The Police To Fight Crime

Ford is working with five UK police forces to help fight vehicle crime this Christmas. A specially equipped Transit is at the forefront of this campaign to beat the criminal.

The T350 long wheelbase, high roof Transit, operated by the Dunton-based Ford Vehicle Security Team, is equipped to support police in identifying stolen vehicles and vehicle components and to investigate new methods used to break into a vehicle.

It is also a mobile security display unit, equipped with everything from window etching to an electronic satellite tracking system, a work bench, alloy wheel marking equipment and a siren and PA system.

Pete Hyam, Ford vehicle security engineer, based at Dunton Technical Centre, said: "We are working in partnership with the police on auto crime prevention, using what we believe is the most secure Transit in the UK. It is equipped with a laminate on the glass which holds the fragments together if broken, and reduces the possibility of entering the vehicle.

"Vehicles are customers' most valuable asset after buying their house, and if we can help reduce this type of crime it will be fantastic."

The five forces Ford will be supporting in the run up to Christmas and beyond are Essex, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley and Cheshire.

Inspector Jonathan Baldwin from Essex Police said: "The objective of this working partnership is to reduce the impact of auto crime.

"We believe that working with companies such as Ford within crime reduction partnership agreements will help take these criminals off the road and reduce their ability to commit crime."

He added: "Most thefts of satellite navigation systems come through vehicle glass being broken. We would like to explore the use of laminate on windows, and to publicise the fact that you can have your satellite navigation aid etched with an ultra violet light-sensitive serial number. That's the type of initiative we are going to promote through this partnership with Ford."