22
Dec
2015
By Calvin at 14:12 GMT, 10 years ago
Yesterday I posted up a story which linked the reader to three very recent news stories about burglary and the effects they had had on their victims.
Today my wife gave me a link to my local online newspaper for Hillingdon (West London), because it concerns yet another raft of burglaries this time in the North of my own Borough.
It seems that the police reckon the thieves may be targeting Christmas presents and, as a result, extra uniformed and plain clothes police are being deployed to tackle the burglaries that have occurred in South Ruislip, Ruislip Manor, Eastcote and Northwood Hills.
Insp. Rob Bryan, Neighbourhood Inspector for Hillingdon North is quoted as saying "We are seeing an increase in burglaries in the run up to Christmas. Most distressing for those affected is that the thieves are stealing presents. The thieves will target any vulnerability - recently a ladder was taken from one garden and used on a house next door to access a small first floor window that was slightly ajar."
Read the rest at the link below.
I’m very glad Inspector Bryan mentioned the ladder!! I sometimes wonder if people believe me when I tell them that this sort of thing goes on. Imagine being that neighbour with the unsecured ladder and what about the victim who left the window open – I wonder if they’ll be insured?
As I said yesterday, Christmas is a time of increased opportunity for thieves. The dark nights show up the unoccupied and unlit dwellings and the lack of light gives cover for their nefarious actions. People are away on holiday and more are out at parties and a few come home pickled and don’t lock up properly at night. Expensive presents loiter around the Xmas tree and the thieves that do these crimes have a greater desire and expectation at this time and, frankly, need the money to join in the fun; be that drugs or alcohol. It’s a bit like that perfect storm where everything that needs to be in place to maximise the opportunity for burglary comes together.
Please heed the warnings and don’t become a one-a-minute-burglary-victim over Xmas.
This is likely to be one of my last postings for the next few days (except for my Daily Xmas tips that run right through to the New Year and beyond) so have a wonderful and hopefully totally crime-free Christmas!
Source: GoWestLondon http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/police-issue-warning-burglars-target-10624261
