A warning was issued in the spring edition of the local neighbourhood watch newsletter alerting people to the crime and police are again telling people to take extra care. This followed a similar warning issued in October last year.

The latest incident took place in Brookmans Park in the early hours of Wednesday morning, September 11. The victim wrote to this site's Forum telling of his experience and warning others to be on their guard.

“In the early hours of the morning someone broke into my house while my wife and I were asleep in bed. They stole my work rucksack, laptop, wallet, digital camera and then our car. The police said it was a professional job and they were most probably only after the car but came across the other stuff while searching for the keys,” he wrote.

Police say the crimes are also happening during the day when people leave their keys in view close to doors and windows. Officers have offered the following advice.

• Don't leave your keys where they are visible, or accessible, to an opportunist thief.
• If you are in the habit of leaving your keys on a hallway table, or on a hook near the door, then break the habit and leave your keys well away from your front door and out of sight. It is a very easy step to take, but by doing so, you will greatly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of such crime.
• We also strongly recommend that owners of high value vehicles keep them garaged overnight, rather than leaving them on the driveway in full view of any would-be thieves. We also recommend that wherever possible, owners of such vehicles consider having a tracking device fitted.

September 12, 2002