Letter box burglary warning
Newbury Today
POLICE have urged West Berkshire residents to remain vigilant against burglars after a number of “letter box” burglaries.
In these instances, criminals gain access to a house by poking their hands or a special implement through the letter box of a door and simply pulling the handle down from the inside.
Burglars targeted homes in Sharnwood Drive, Calcot and St John’s Road in Mortimer last week using this method.
The thieves stole several electric gadgets including an Ipod, a satellite navigation system, a laptop and a television from the house in Calcot and stole a BMW car from the house in Mortimer.
The police said that the thieves got access to the car after breaking in to the house through the letter box and finding the car keys which had been left lying around.
TVP crime reduction advisor, Romy Freiburghaus said: “With a lot of new UPVC doors, you can rack up the handle on the inside so the door can’t be opened from the outside – but it can still be opened from the inside. So burglars put their hands or an implement through the letterbox and pull the handle down.”
“What people should be doing is double-locking the door with a key.”
She added: “Don’t leave purses, wallets, handbags or car keys where burglars can easily see them, such as the hallway, kitchen worktop or on a rack near the front or back door. Keep them out of sight so it’s difficult for burglars to find them quickly.”
