The Fleet Neighbourhood Policing Team officially added vehicle crime (theft from / theft of vehicles) to its list of community priorities on 5 February 2026, following heightened local concern across Fleet, Hampshire. The change was announced via Hampshire Alert on 5 February 2026 and signals a shift of time and resources toward preventing car and van thefts in targeted residential areas.
The decision followed a review of recent incidents, including keyless (relay) attacks on vehicles and ‘smash-and-grab’ thefts of tools from trade vans. Officers say the response will include increased intelligence-led, night-time patrols and a move to a prevention-first model.
Officers have begun visiting local streets to share security advice and, according to local policing briefings and the research dossier, to distribute Faraday pouches — signal‑blocking bags designed to help prevent relay attacks on keyless fobs. Hampshire Alert’s 5 February updates confirm targeted patrols and community messaging intended to give residents practical crime‑prevention advice.
A public police‑funding consultation (which concluded 2 December 2025) and the Police and Crime Panel discussion on 2 February 2026 found vehicle crime among the top three concerns raised by respondents (alongside anti‑social behaviour and burglary). The local shift aligns with Donna Jones’s Police and Crime Plan ‘More Police, Safer Streets’ for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which emphasises increased officer visibility and responding to resident‑led concerns.
