22
Aug
2017
By Calvin at 10:28 GMT, 8 years ago
One of my wife’s clients got burgled the other night; not by breaking into the house, but by poking a stick and hook through the front door’s letter plate and lifting the house keys. Having got the keys the burglar unlocked the front door and walked in. Fortunately he was heard and so fled empty handed leaving the keys behind.
Whilst that was a close thing it could have been so much worse had the occupiers not been disturbed.
I got rid of my letterplate a few years ago when I had a new front door fitted. Instead, I use a letterbox attached to the wall and for several good reason, which are listed below:
- Draughts Freebie newspapers and leaflets left sticking out of the letter plate lets the cold air into the house (or lets the warm air out).
- Evidence of occupancy. A newspaper stuck in a letter plate might indicate that nobody is at home. It could be this small visual clue that puts the idea of burglary into the mind of the thief.
- Evaluating a target. A thief can peer through a letter plate to hear and or see if people are at home.
- Fishing. The term ‘fishing’ describes the action of putting a rod and hook or arm and stick through the letter plate in order to steal something in reach. This technique normally leads to the theft of the house and car keys left on a hall table. With the keys they will let themselves into the house and steal from it or steal the car or do both
- Lock manipulation. This refers to the technique of putting an arm (a pretty thin one, often belonging to a juvenile) or a length of electrical cable though the letter plate to access the turn knob on the back of a lock. This is the way that people will break into a house converted into flats where there is often a single nightlatch on the street entrance door.
- Door pulling. Although rare, there have been instances where a grappling iron or something similar has been inserted through the letter plate to grip onto the inside of the door. This is then attached by rope or chain to a large vehicle and the door is literally pulled from its frame. This type of forced entry can only really be expected to occur at a dwelling that is both remote from neighbouring properties and has sufficient space for the vehicle to manoeuvre.
- Arson. According to the fire service, most domestic arsons (around 90%) involve the letter plate through which petrol or similar fuel is poured followed by a burning rag or firework. Very often the fuel falls onto a carpet, which aids the burning, and the worst aspect of this is that the fire is at the front door, which most of us would use as our means of escape in an emergency. At the less serious end of intentions, but nevertheless with extremely serious outcomes, are people putting fireworks through people’s doors for ‘a laugh’.
Are you still happy with your door’s letterplate?
More advice here: https://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/security-door-locks-hardware-and-fittings/565/letterbox-burglary-letter-plates-and-mail-delivery/
