Bracknell

Police in Bracknell are warning residents to take extra precautions to secure their homes following a spate of domestic burglaries across the area in recent weeks.

Everett Bentley, crime reduction adviser for Bracknell local police area, said: “Unfortunately, we’ve seen a number of burglaries in which the offenders have poked an implement, probably a piece of wood or wire, through the letter box and used it to pull down the handle of the front door lock.

“The burglars have particularly targeted UPVc front doors, where the letter box is located close to the lock. However, this method only works if the door has not been made fully secure by using a key to operate the deadlock.”

The letterbox burglars usually strike in the early hours of the morning, when residents are asleep. On most occasions, they make so little noise that the burglary is not discovered until the householders wake up and find their property missing.

Small portable items are favoured by the intruders, and Mr Bentley advises residents to put valuables such as handbags, wallets, keys and mobile phones in a safe place, out of sight and out of reach of opportunist burglars.

In the most recent examples of this type of crime, a mobile phone was taken from a house in Great Hollands on 31 March, and a handbag stolen from a house in Crown Wood overnight on 31 March/1 April. Similar burglaries have occurred in Bullbrook, College Town, Priestwood and Garth.

In addition to installing a burglar alarm, another tip from Bracknell’s crime reduction advisers is to fix some bells, chimes or a similar device on the front door, so that it makes a noise when opened, thus alerting the occupants.

Added Mr Bentley: “It’s important to make your house secure by using the deadlock, but always remember to keep the key in a place where you can easily find it, so that you are able to get out of the house in an emergency.”

For more advice on how to protect your home, contact Bracknell police area’s crime reduction advisers Everett Bentley and John Oblein on 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell