Burglars targeting insecure homes by night
Date: 13/05/2008 16:41:57
Burglars have been targeting homes in one area by going house-to-house looking for unlocked doors and windows at night.
The Norwich Evening News reports houses in Bowthopre and Earlham were hit, with thieves walking in through open front doors in the early hours.
A handbag was taken in one raid while a laptop, wallet, mobile phone and bike went missing during the other incidents.
Quoted by the paper, DC Mick Andrews of Norfolk police said: "It is very important that householders remember to check that their windows and doors are locked securely."
All three thefts happened in one night and may not be covered on
home insurance as all involved homes not being properly secured.
A previous study by experts at the University of Leicester suggested burglars are profiting from unsecured houses, with alarms left unactivated and around a fifth of raids carried out through an open door while a house is occupied.
Burglars said many home owners also leave clues that they are out such as milk on the doorstep and curtains closed during the day while the occupants are away on holiday.