Police warning: key thefts

[herrd]

Hi guys, I attended a Neighbourhood Watch meeting last night, and the police officers told us there have been a few incidents of people having their car/house keys stolen through the letterbox in the East Dulwich area, by use of a fishing rod/cane, or some other implement.

They warned us to be vigilant about leaving keys where they can be seen through the letterbox, as organized gangs poke through, hook them, and clear off. It has mainly been happening at night time. The first thing you know is when your motor's gone walkies in the morning. Common sense stuff, but just thought I'd pass it on so you can all keep it in mind.

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[Thomas Micklewright]

Here here, vigilance is key.

[Loz]

Is that a bad pun, Thomas?

[Thomas Micklewright]

no it was a jolly good one! harp

[Betterat50m]

Cant believe people still keep keys near the front door.

[giggirl]

This happened to me 20 years ago when I lived on Melbourne Grove and someone broke into next door's shed and stole something which they then used to pull my handbag from a kitchen counter and through the cat-flap. Spent 20 minutes looking for my handbag the following day before I figured it out.

[Otta]

Popular trick when I lived in Liverpool. You'd have thought people would have twigged by now.

[nloyall]

We have had two sets of keys that have gone missing from the house I am renting in. Everyone thought it was one particular housemate but I always wondered why someone living in the house would steal more keys when they have their own set of keys.

[Sue]

nloyall Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We have had two sets of keys that have gone

> missing from the house I am renting in. Everyone

> thought it was one particular housemate but I

> always wondered why someone living in the house

> would steal more keys when they have their own set

> of keys.

xxxxxxx

To give to other people I presume :-S

[Alec John Moore]

As a result of reading similar threads on EDF I now make sure doors are properly locked and keys out of sight or upstairs with laptop, wallet etc. before I go to bed. I sometimes take the TV up too but that's really so the kids can't watch it before they go to school in the morning. It can be a real pain getting them off it and out of the door in the morning.

[whisteria]

We have a door curtain. It keeps the house warm and covers up the letterbox at the same time. :))

[Peckhampam]

re these postings and Alec John Moore's especially.....please make sure that keys are accessible to all in house in case of fire! You don't want to be locked in.

[EDOliver]

Stick your keys and any small valuables (wallet, iPhone etc) under your bed at night. The chances of a scumbag burglar tip toeing around your bed when you're asleep are pretty slim, they're far more likely just to bugger off when they can't find anything downstairs.

And please remember to lock windows from INSIDE at all times - double glazing is suprisingly easy to smash and if windows aren't locked then entry/exit is very easy.

[Alec John Moore]

Good point PP, in our case they are out of sight but not out of mind.

[James Barber]

Apparently the warning was for the Oakhurst area and not an East Dulwich wide problem - but still sensible advice about not keeping any keys near letterboxes/hallways.