Kent Police make arrests after cars targeted in Chartham near Canterbury

Chartham is a village within the Canterbury district in east Kent. The force advised motorists to lock their vehicles, remove valuables, and park in well-lit areas to reduce the risk of theft or damage.

The Chartham arrests come amid broader enforcement activity across Kent. In west Kent, Kent Police reported that vehicle thefts in the Sevenoaks area fell by around 22% — from 342 reported offences in the period March 2023 to February 2024, to 266 in the latest corresponding period — following targeted action. Solved vehicle theft offences in that area rose by around 114%, from 28 to 60, according to the force. Separate Kent Police investigations have also led to suspects being charged with conspiring to steal cars and commit burglaries involving vehicle keys.

Detailed crime figures broken down to the level of Chartham or the Canterbury district are not publicly available at that granularity, according to Office for National Statistics and Home Office data.

Key information

• Report suspicious activity around parked vehicles to Kent Police on the non-emergency number 101, or call 999 if a crime is in progress.
• Kent Police advises keeping vehicle keys away from front doors and windows, and using signal-blocking pouches for keyless entry fobs.
• Additional security measures recommended by the force include steering locks and tracking devices.