10
Jan
2014
By Calvin at 10:44 GMT, 12 years ago
Police in Telford are investigating after a burglary in Ketley. The incident occurred at an address on Orchard Close on Tuesday 7 January.
Between 11.30am and midday it appears that thieves broke into the property by forcing open a UPVC door at the rear with an implement of some sort.
On entering the property it seems the thieves set the house alarm off, but this did not prevent them carrying out a quick search and then stealing a small safe from one of the bedrooms before making their escape. The thieves also stole a briefcase from a different bedroom.
A police spokesman said: “We believe the alarm frightened the thieves off before they had the chance to carry out a more thorough search but they still managed to steal property with a total value that is thought to be more than £2000.
“Among the property contained in the safe when it was stolen were several pieces of Indian and costume jewellery - including a matching gold necklace and earrings, 300 American and Canadian dollars, 30,000 rupees and also a number of personal documents including passports.
“House-to-house enquiries have been carried out in the area following this break-in and one witness has mentioned seeing four unknown men acting suspiciously on Orchard Close on Tuesday morning.
“Police remain keen to speak to anyone who may have seen these men, or anything else that could be linked to this burglary and anyone who believes they may have information about this incident is asked to call police officers in Telford on 101 or 0300 333 3000, quoting incident number 207S 070114.”
TCPW Comment: This incident really does highlight the fact that physical security is an essential part of our overall home security arrangements. Clearly the burglars were fully aware that having set off the alarm they would get a few minutes to snatch small items of portable property before anyone would come to the house. Even if the alarm was registered for automatic police attendance, there is always a delay between the monitoring company receiving the call and the police attending the scene. And if the police were already busy dealing with other incidents that delay could be quite substantial.
Unfortunately the report does not tell us much about how the rear UPVC door was forced open, other than the fact that an ‘implement of some sort’ was used, but I rather suspect the door was not one of the enhanced security kind that this website promotes.
So, if you have plans to replace your doors and or windows this year do please consider spending the extra on ones that are certificated to the standards recommended by this website.
And if you have a safe in the house, please make sure it is firmly fixed to a wall or floor!
You know it makes sense!
And incidentally if the occupiers of this house had a device that if attacked sounded an alarm and sprayed the offenders with a forensic marker there might have been a greater chance of a successful prosecution if the offenders were caught! Such a device does exist and you can get one from Strandna
Source: http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/news-articles/10721/police-investigate-burglary-in-ketley.html
Enhanced Secure Doors: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/door-security/475/pas-242012-enhanced-security-doorsets/
Enhanced Secure Windows: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/window-security/480/windows-of-enhanced-security-pas-242012-formerly-bs-7950/
Safes: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/security-inside-the-home/485/safes/
