Council Baulks At Bag-snatch Warning Signs
Sun Herald
Sunday December 4, 2005
CITY of Sydney council is concerned a plan to erect signs in Redfern warning motorists against bag snatchers will scare drivers.
After a recent spate of snatchings, police asked council to caution motorists that thieves were targeting unlocked cars at traffic lights.Motorists should be told to lock their vehicles, police said.Council has agreed to erect one sign only, to test its effect."We are thinking about the right size to put up so that we don't induce fear," council community safety officer John Maynard said.Robberies from cars occur most at the intersections of McEvoy Street and Botany Road and Abercrombie and Cleveland streets. But incidents have recently extended as far as Moore Park.Insurance broker Danielle Hopper was driving home with her four-year-old son, Blake, earlier this month when a thief snatched her bag from the front seat about 10pm.It also happened to the car behind, indicating that two people were working together."I think they were choosing the types of cars and female drivers," Mrs Hopper said.
© 2005 Sun Herald