Imagine reporting your car stolen… only to be told the police took the keys first.
That’s exactly what could now happen if you leave your vehicle unlocked in Jersey.
In a bid to halt the sharp rise in “joy-riding” by opportunistic youths, the States of Jersey Police have unveiled what they’re calling ‘Operation Handle’ – a crackdown that will see officers actively checking parked cars in hotspot areas and removing keys from vehicles left unlocked in the hope of getting there before thieves strike…
“They are simply opportunist”
So far this year, 20 vehicles have been reported stolen – double the figure at the same point last year. In 2024, 53 cars were taken across the island, roughly one a week.
According to Chief Inspector Craig Jackson, who is leading the operation, every single one of them had been left unlocked.
Meanwhile, just this week, two youths appeared in court facing separate charges of taking and driving a vehicle without consent.
“These crimes are completely preventable, and these young people aren’t going out with specific tools to do the job; they are simply opportunist,” he explained.
“The young people don’t have a driving licence, they are disqualified because of their age, and it is probably pure luck that they have not yet injured themselves or someone else.
“The stolen cars often have other people in them, too.”
Police say most offenders are underage and already known to them.
What’s behind the spike?
Officers describe a worrying progression in behaviour from tampering with handles, stealing from vehicles, to driving them away.
Rather than blaming a specific trend, Chief Inspector Jackson thinks that it is a case of risky behaviour spreading among young people’s friendship groups.
The island’s traditional sense of security may also be part of the problem – with the Chief Inspector branding “complacency” as “the biggest risk”.
Whatever the cause, the risks are extreme.
“We know these young people can’t control the vehicles, and it is only a matter of time before somebody is seriously injured or killed,” he said.
So, how will Operation Handle work?
Uniformed and plain-clothes patrols will focus on St Helier hotspots.
If they find an unlocked vehicle, they’ll remove any property and/or keys they find within it before tracking down the registered owner and calling them to “highlight the risk, because, ultimately, their vehicle could be responsible for killing somebody”.
“That might be an inconvenience for the keeper, but it is far less inconvenient than having their car stolen,” the Chief Inspector added.
He noted that officers will also be working with the Youth Service to identify and divert young offenders before their behaviour escalates any further.
See something? Say something
However, everyone has a role to play, the force stressed.
“What I’d urge members of the public to do is: if they see anything suspicious, report it… if you see something and you’re not sure about it, report it to us.”
Islanders can call 612612 to make a report or 999 in an emergency.