24
Jun
2014
By Calvin at 11:19 GMT, 11 years ago
As those of you who regular visit these pages will know I often cite police news stories to highlight particular trends in crime in an attempt to keep us ahead of the villains. Sadly this does mean that I am using the misfortune of others in an attempt to keep my readers secure.
This story from West Mercia Police is a case in point.
Burglars got into a house in Ellesmere, Shropshire, during the night, stole sets of keys and made off with a family car and gardening equipment valued at nearly £12,500.
The theft took place sometime between 11pm on Wednesday 18 June and 7.45am on Thursday 19 June 2014 from the property in Oak Drive, Ellesmere.
The owners woke up to find a window and door of their home open and their grey Vauxhall Astra SRi CDTi, which had been parked in the street outside the house, missing. They also discovered a handbag had been taken from the house, while a Husqvarna petrol strimmer and a Stihl hedge cutter were missing from the garden shed.
Detective Constable Robert Buxton from Shrewsbury police said: “We want to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in Oak Drive overnight on Wednesday 18 June and anyone who saw or knows the location of the grey Vauxhall Astra to contact us.
“We are also urging anyone who has been offered gardening equipment matching those items described to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Buxton on the non emergency number 101 quoting incident number 115s 190614.
TCPW Comment: So what can we do to avoid the same thing happening to us?
These days you really do need the keys to take a modern vehicle, which is why vehicle theft has become more associated with burglary. So one thing we could do is to take the car keys (and the handbag) to bed with us! I’ve said it before, but I really do think this one simple cost-free action would work. Remember, these villains not only took the car, but they used it to make their getaway and transport the stolen property.
Shed security is also something I repeatedly talk about, but since 38% of us admit to having insecure garden sheds (Home Security Survey findings – Newsletter 11) it’s no wonder that I do!
My wife’s been taking her handbag to bed with her for several years now. I must admit it gets in the way on occasions, but at least it’s unlikely to go missing during a burglary with all that hassle with the stolen bank and credit cards, driving licence, lost cash etc, etc...
Follow the KOPCAR routine because if you ‘KOPCAR’ at night you won’t have to call a COP CAR in the morning!
What’s KOPCAR? – follow this link: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/home-security-assessment/711/security-routine-at-night/
