Burglars targeting homes for car keys

POLICE are warning residents not to leave their car keys lying round at night after a spate of burglaries.

Thieves have stolen thousands of pounds of vehicles from houses across Basildon in the past week.

Officers are urging people to be vigilant and to not leave their car keys by the front door or in their coat pockets when they go to bed.

Bizarrely, a number of the break-ins have seen crooks dump the stolen car just yards from the victims home.

It is not known if this was because the cars were out of fuel or the crooks did not know how to drive them.

Sgt Angie Torrance, from Basildon police station, said: A number of these break-ins have involved front and patio doors being forced open. We advise people to ensure they properly lock their doors at night and to consider fitting a door chain and bolt.

While high-value cars are always going to be a target for criminals, we have found it is not solely these vehicles which have been stolen.

All keys should always be hidden away at night.

If members of the public see anything suspicious in their neighbourhood, if they see anyone abandoning a vehicle or acting suspiciously in a vehicle at night, I urge them to contact the police immediately.

The first burglary happened between 3.30am and 8am on February 20, when thieves broke in to a house in Glenmere, Vange, by forcing open the front door.

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Burglars targeting homes for car keys