9
Jan
2014
By Calvin at 14:13 GMT, 12 years ago
I received an email from John from London yesterday asking if I wouldn’t mind highlighting the problems with letterplates in people’s front doors. He asked me this because he’d just had his car pinched by burglars who hooked out his car keys through the letterplate and although the car was recovered he lost his golf clubs from the boot.
So, in support of John’s request, here are a few things about letterplates that may not have occurred to you:
- They give away the fact that you’re not in. If someone delivers the mail or maybe a newspaper and doesn’t push it all the way through, not only could this be a clue to a burglar that nobody is at home, but it’ll let the cold air in
- They help the burglar check before breaking in. A little peep through the plate can sometimes be all it needs to satisfy the thief that you’re not at home
- Fishing for keys. Thieves can put a rod, hook or arm through the plate to steal items off hallway tables etc. This is what happened to John when they stole the car keys during the night
- Allows the manipulation of the door locks. If the door hasn’t been locked using the deadlock then a latch can be undone by poking tape through the letterplate. Sometimes burglars take young children with them to unlock doors, because they can squeeze their arms through the plate to reach the turn knob.
- Door pulling. Although rare, doors have been pulled out of their frames using grappling irons pushed through the letterplate and then attached by chain to a 4X4!
- Arson. Most domestic arson involves the pouring of liquid fuel through the letterplate.
Have I convinced you that letterplates should be removed whenever it is practical to do so? Do you agree with me that it would be better to securely attach a lockable letter box to the house wall and block up the letterplate?
John’s absolutely convinced, but then he’s been the victim of a letterplate burglary!
If you’d like to know more read all the options at the following link on this website.
Letter Plates (Letter Boxes) and Mail Delivery: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/security-door-locks-hardware-and-fittings/565/letter-plates-letter-boxes-and-mail-delivery/
