Lewisham Borough Police would like to highlight the common methods of burglary in the borough, and offer you advice on preventing them.
Common types of burglary
Letterbox burglaries
A letterbox burglary is where a burglar reaches through a letterbox, and hooks keys that have been left near the door.
Sometimes a burglar will use the keys to open your door, but more often they will take your car keys and drive off with your car.
Any vehicle is at risk of being taken, irrespective of age, make or model.
If anything else is close to hand they will, of course, take that too. This includes cash, credit cards, wallets, purses, televisions, laptops and other electrical equipment.
We are appealing to all home owners to consider tighter security measures for your keys (including spare sets), especially at night or when your home is unoccupied.
Laptop theft
Many people have laptop computers. Laptops are an easy target for burglars, especially if they are clearly visible from outside of your home.
You may not be able to prevent the loss of your laptop, but you can prevent the loss of information or precious material by regularly backing up your computer.
Store important information from your laptop on CDs or memory sticks, and keep these items secure.
Distraction burglaries
Distraction burglaries are primarily aimed at older and vulnerable people.
Criminals trick their way into properties in order to steal property or to carry out repairs at inflated prices. On some occasions, they escort victims to banks and building societies to secure payment for repairs. Reputable companies never use these methods.
If you are in doubt about any tradesperson that calls at your house, don't let them in, and call your Safer Neighbourhood Team for advice. (Find contact details for your local team by following the link on the right of this page, or visit the Police web page).
Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Crime Prevention Officers are available to offer you advice.
Preventing burglaries
We ask all homeowners to take a hard look at the security of your home.
Fit secure locks
Examine your locks:
- Do you have mortise locks fitted?
- Do you have window locks?
If you live in multi-occupancy accommodation:
- Examine the front door, how easy is it to enter the main building?
- Approach your landlord to upgrade the security of the building.
Check doors and windows during warm weather
A number of burglars are also entering properties through windows and doors that are being left open in the warm weather.
Check your home before leaving it or going to sleep at night.
Secure your valuables
We will never be able to stop opportunist burglars who smash a windows to gain entry to homes, but can you do more to secure your valuables?
Make it difficult for burglars to find their way in and then make it hard for them to find items of value wherever you can. Usually burglars do not want to be disturbed. They are looking for a quick way in and out of the premises, even if it means leaving empty handed.
You can mark your valuables by etching them or using ultraviolet pens that you can buy at most stationers. You can then visit the Immobilise website (follow the link on the right) to register your items.
Once your item is registered, if you report it missing or stolen, information about your item will be automatically placed on the Police National Stolen Equipment Database.
What to do if you have been burgled
If you have been burgled, then the burglar may have left some forensic evidence at the points of entry to and exit from your home.
If you've cleared up after the burglary, or moved anything then you should keep everything that you move. Our Scene of Crime officers attend every residential burglary, and this evidence will be useful to them.
Reporting crime
If you have any information on the location of stolen property, or on people who have committed burglaries in the borough, then you can call Lewisham Police using the contact details below.
Visit our Police page for further details of how to report crime, including details of how to report crime anonymously.