9
Apr
2013
By Calvin at 10:32 GMT, 13 years ago
Here’s a press release from West Mercia police about two burglaries that need not have happened, which got me thinking...
Police in Worcester are reminding people about the importance of home security after two sneak-in burglaries at houses on Tolladine Road, one of which resulted in the householder’s car being stolen from the drive.
The grey Hyundai i10 was taken at around 1.30am yesterday (Monday, 8 April) from one of the houses after it was entered via the back door.
It is believed someone got into the property by reaching through the cat flap to get to a key which had been left in the lock on the inside of the door.
Once inside, they stole a handbag containing the car keys and then left the house through the front door before stealing the vehicle from the driveway.
The second burglary took place just a day earlier on Sunday, 7 April, between 9.30pm and 9.40pm after a house was entered via an unlocked back door.
A Samsung mobile phone and some tobacco were then stolen from the kitchen.
Detective Inspector Stuart Murphy from Worcester police station said: “In light of these recent burglaries, I would like to remind residents to review their home security and make sure that it is not easy for thieves to get into your house.
“Both of these burglaries happened while people were in at the time. These types of offences can be particularly unnerving, so I would urge people to make sure that doors are locked before going to bed and that keys are kept out of easy reach of letterboxes and cat flaps.
“I would also ask people to call us if they have noticed anyone hanging around Tolladine Road – acting suspiciously – in the last couple of days or have noticed a vehicle matching the description of the one which has been stolen turn up unexpectedly in their area.”
Anyone with information can call Worcester police station on 0300 333 3000 quoting reference 26S 080413. Alternatively, people can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
TCPW Comment
Many thousands of burglaries like these occur needlessly each year in the UK and each one of them demonstrates the importance of opportunity. I wouldn’t mind betting that normally these homes are quite secure and that when the folk go out they check they’ve locked the windows and doors and removed the keys and perhaps set the alarm.
So what’s gone wrong? Ironically it is the presence of the occupiers that has led to the opportunities these ‘sneak thieves’ were looking for, not their absence. If these people had gone out, would they have left a back door open or left the key in the door? Maybe, but I think less likely, because it is exactly the time when we go out that we check with each other that we’ve locked up.
In both these cases it is essentially a lack of routine that has led to these offences, a theme I shall no doubt return to time and time again throughout the year.
So, for what it’s worth, I’ve come up with a memory aid, a mnemonic; something that all members of the household can learn and use in their routine for locking up at night, and it’s called – K.O.P.C.A.R.
Here’s the explanation:
Keys – remove from doors and windows. Make sure the doors, windows, car, safe and outside buildings are locked at night, before removing the keys even when, for example, you’re in the lounge watching TV. Make sure they can’t be stolen via a cat-flap or letterplate and that everyone in the household knows where the keys are kept in case they are needed in an emergency.
Outside lights – make sure they’re on, but only illuminate the places around your home that can be seen by neighbours or people walking by.
Property – take to bed. Get into the habit of taking things like car keys, phones, cash, handbags and laptops into the bedroom at night.
Close curtains or blinds at dusk - to make sure thieves can’t see though your windows to see what you’ve got to steal or that you’re on your own. Close internal doors at night to help prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
Alarm – set it if you have one. Some alarms provide a nighttime setting, allowing some free movement around the home while the alarm is on. Periodically check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Rest easy – now that you’re secured you can relax, but can you phone the police or fire brigade from your bedroom in the event of an emergency?
And remember. If you K.O.P.C.A.R at night you won’t have to call a COP CAR in the morning!
You know it makes sense!
Original Press release, West Mercia Police: http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/news-articles/warning-after-car-stolen-in-sneak-in-burglaries-worcester.html
