Burglars strike 15 times...in 48 hours (From Echo)
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Burglars strike 15 times...in 48 hours
8:10am Monday 29th October 2012 in Local News By Laura Smith
AN ALARMING number of burglaries have hit the Rochford district....with 15 break-ins in just two days.
Police believe there are two separate gangs who have been breaking into houses for jewellery, cash, and electrical goods.
The key areas that have been hit the Grange area of Rayleigh, central Rochford, but also areas of Hockley and Hullbridge.
Insp Chris Wood, of Castle Point police, said: “This is an unusually large and concentrated series of offences within a short period of time.”
It is particularly shocking as the Rochford district is usually such a low-crime area. In August, there were just nine break-ins in Rayleigh, six in Rochford, and nine in Hockley according to the police.uk website.
Insp Wood said: “We increased patrols on Wednesday evening and yesterday in respect of these areas and investigations are ongoing in respect of the offences reported to us so far.
"We’d ask for anyone who has seen anything suspicious to contact us immediately and for people to ensure their houses are properly secured when they leave them, especially at night when they are going to bed.”
He said the reports had started coming in on Wedenesday before police began to see a pattern emerging.
There are two very distinctive MOs which would suggest there are different groups committing the crimes. The roads hit include Eastwood Road and Dorothy Farm Road, and the Little Wheatley estate in Rayleigh. In Hullbridge, a house in Mayfield Avenue was ransacked. Anyone with information should call Southend Target Offender Team on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments(17)
steve@eastwood
says...
2:02pm Mon 29 Oct 12
catburglar
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2:16pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Basildon.lad.21
says...
2:54pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Diannah
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4:38pm Mon 29 Oct 12
catburglar wrote:How much of a deterrent is having a burglar alarm do you think?
They always knock 1st. If there's no answer they go round the back and break in. Or if the front door handle goes down ie. not double locked. They can get in, in seconds. Almost like they got their own key. BEWaRE.
catburglar
says...
5:02pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Diannah wrote:Its a massive deterrent most burglars wont touch a house with an alarm box on it. However they might take a chance if the box looks really old and probably not used.
catburglar wrote:How much of a deterrent is having a burglar alarm do you think?
They always knock 1st. If there's no answer they go round the back and break in. Or if the front door handle goes down ie. not double locked. They can get in, in seconds. Almost like they got their own key. BEWaRE.
Diannah
says...
5:48pm Mon 29 Oct 12
catburglar wrote:Thank you for that.
Diannah wrote:Its a massive deterrent most burglars wont touch a house with an alarm box on it. However they might take a chance if the box looks really old and probably not used.
catburglar wrote:How much of a deterrent is having a burglar alarm do you think?
They always knock 1st. If there's no answer they go round the back and break in. Or if the front door handle goes down ie. not double locked. They can get in, in seconds. Almost like they got their own key. BEWaRE.
Seasider90
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5:50pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Russ13
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9:35am Tue 30 Oct 12
As others have said, double-lock/deadbolt the front door, make sure all windows are shut/locked.
If there's a side gate/rear access to the property, make sure it's locked and if possible, make it difficult to climb over.
Don't use "beware of the dog/cat" sitckers, most burglars will make the assumption there will be a door/window open at the back of the house to let the cat/dog in and out.
An alarm is a very good deterrent, Yale do a decent wireless one for around £160 and you can even connect it to a phone line and set 5 numbers for it to dial if it's triggered.
As selfish as this sounds, make you home look more difficult to break into than your neighbours, these scumbags want to break in with as little effort/noise as possible.
rjsizzler
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12:30pm Tue 30 Oct 12
Are they daytime, nightime, method of entry etc.? It would be useful to know what the distinctive MOs mentioned in the article actually are so we can think about preventative action.
Alekhine
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12:44pm Tue 30 Oct 12
The French doors were more secure than the front door but the front door was on view. I suggest that anyone with an unsighted rear door/garden should put a camera up and make it visable.
rjsizzler
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12:53pm Tue 30 Oct 12
catburglar
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7:27pm Tue 30 Oct 12
rjsizzler wrote:The day time Mo is knock on the door a few times. If theres no answer and no alarm box. They will try the front door to see if its double locked. If not they will try to gain entry through the rear of the property. They are most likely to use a glass hammer as this makes little or no noise to shatter any windows or patio doors. once inside they will go straight to the master bedroom and search for gold and cash. If nothing too valuable is found they will either leave empty handed or grab an expensive laptop or mobile. They will then walk casually out of the property to their getaway car parked a few streets away. Which will arouse very little suspicion. As they will not be running or carrying any large electrical goods. Best advice is to have any sort of alarm box on the front of the property as they will not target these properties. Also corner houses are a magnet for burglars as they only have one neighbour and the rear is easily accessible.
Does anyone have any more information about the recent burglaries?
Are they daytime, nightime, method of entry etc.? It would be useful to know what the distinctive MOs mentioned in the article actually are so we can think about preventative action.
Diannah
says...
9:19am Wed 31 Oct 12
When I was a child we couldn't get away with anything because the neighbours were our parents' eyes and ears. This is another burglar deterrent which seems to have disappeared.
rjsizzler
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12:36pm Wed 31 Oct 12
I guess burglaries have always happened in all areas but this recent spate has got some of us thinking!
rjsizzler
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12:46pm Wed 31 Oct 12
The Soldier in White
says...
6:13pm Wed 31 Oct 12
rjsizzler wrote:Probably offer to clean the leaves from your gutter or give you a quote for those much needed repairs to your drive.
...and what do they do if someone answers the door when they knock??
Alekhine says...
1:06pm Mon 29 Oct 12