The summer period was extended this year offering us a few extra weeks of slightly warmer weather. This often encourages us to leave our windows and doors open. However, doing this creates easy access for sneak in thieves to enter your property and take your valuable possessions.
These thefts occur not only to houses but to vehicles as well. If a thief can see that a car has valuables in it or that the windows or doors have been left open, it is more likely to be targeted.
In one incident in the Boardman Lane are of Brandesburton, an insecure vehicle was approached, entered and searched.
Some thieves do not even have to see an open window or door to target your property. In one incident also in the Boardman Lane area of Brandesburton, an instrument was used to reach into the house via the letter box and take a set of keys. The garage was opened and a petrol strimmer was taken. The house was then entered and a laptop was taken. The thieves then made off in a car which was also stolen from the property.
Detective Sergeant Emma Heatley of Humberside Polices Serious Acquisitive Crime Team (SACT) said: “This type of crime can be avoided by residents being extra vigilant when securing their property on an evening.
“The examples highlighted above show that some sneak in thieves do not even have to force entry into property, they can simply walk straight into your house, climb through an open window or open your car door.
“With the darker and longer nights drawing in it is important you take even more care. These thieves tend to target property in the darkness so they can go undetected. Consider installing censored lights that come on when they detect motion. This can alert you to any movement and it can also deter a thief.
“Please also consider some of the below advice to reduce your risk of being targeted.”
• Ensure you close windows and sunroofs and lock your doors, don’t make your car an easy target for criminals.
• Activate your car alarm. This will let you know if someone is attempting to break into your car, and will often startle criminals.
• Take all valuable items including; bags, purses, phones, CD players, sat navs out of your car when you leave it. We appreciate this is probably the last thing on your mind after a hard days work but taking just a few minutes to do so, could prevent your car being targeted.
• Garages usually contain valuable items and many have integral doors which could offer a thief easy, hidden access to your home. Fit your garage door with a padlock to reduce the ease of entry.
• Consider extending your household alarm system to your garage to offer an additional deterrent.
• Good lighting is an excellent deterrent, particularly exterior lighting with dusk to dawn sensors.
• Don’t leave keys in view. If a thief can see a set of keys through a window or letter box, they will be more likely to try and take them. Keep them well hidden but in a place that will make them easily accessible to you, not a thief.
Humberside police would also like to remind residents in the East Riding to report any suspicious behaviour at the time they witness it. Leaving a long delay between an incident and the time reported can mean the difference between a criminal being caught and getting away.
DS Emma Heatley added: “In one incident reported in Bridlington a known burglar was seen acting suspiciously, entering the garden of an address in the Jubilee Avenue area of Bridlington. He was also seen some weeks prior to this but was not reported.
“If this information had been reported to us at the time, the police could have taken immediate action.”
If you witness any suspicious behaviour please report it immediately on Humberside polices non emergency number 101, or call 999 in an emergency. If you would like further advice on securing your property please contact 101 or visit the Humberside police website www.humberside.police.uk.