Spotlight on Burglary

Spotlight on Burglary

by TIM HICKS

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Introduction

The NYE team monitor the North Yorkshire Police (NYP) website for updates on crime, which we disseminate to our readers in the Police 7 articles. These articles have proved to be very popular with our readers. We include information from NYP on crime prevention in these articles.

Recently we have noted reports on a number of successful and highly commendable investigations by NYP into local burglaries. Some of these crimes were committed by local men, some by gangs from outside North Yorkshire. We have decided to cover this type of crime in greater depth, with emphasis on how to prevent them, so our readership is better able to protect itself from this type of crime.

Scarborough and Bridlington ‘Distraction’ Burglaries

Two men and two women have been jailed for over 26 years in total following a spree of distraction burglaries targeting older and vulnerable people. The gang targeted older people in their 80s and 90s, because they are more vulnerable. On 23 May 2025 they travelled from Leeds to Scarborough by car where the men dropped the women off to prey on an 87 year old victim.

The women were dressed in NHS-style clothing and called at the homes of older people posing as trainee doctors, asking for sponsorship to pay for non-existent medical school. Once inside their victims’ homes, one of the women would ask to use the toilet, while the other distracted the elderly victim. Instead of using the toilet they would hunt around the house looking for cash and valuables before leaving with their stolen haul. The men in the group would then pick them up and take them onto their next vulnerable victim.

However, happily an observant and quick-thinking neighbour realised that something was not right when he saw the pair calling at his neighbour’s home. After seeing them enter her house, he called at the door and challenged the pair, asking them for identification. The pair then fled empty-handed. Undeterred they proceeded to Bridlington and stole cash and jewellery from an 89-year-old woman. Fortunately. the neighbour had alerted NYP and the gang was intercepted and arrested.

Distraction Burglars often pretend to be someone they are not to gain entry to your home. Common methods used include:

• Pretending to be from a care agency, the council or a utility company investigating a gas or water leak.
• Seeking help to leave a note for a neighbour or even asking for a drink of water if they claim to be thirsty or unwell.
• Claiming to be in a hurry or emergency and needing to get into your home quickly.
• Working in teams, with one person distracting you while the other searches your home.
• Pretending to be doorstep sellers.

Here are some key measures you can take to prevent distraction burglary:

• Use your door viewer to see who’s there.
• If you open the door put the chain on first.
• Always ask for ID and check it with the company or organisation before letting somebody into your home.
• Don’t let anyone into your home who you are not expecting. Genuine callers will understand.
• Use the phone number advertised on an official website or online, as the number on their identity card could be fake. For a utility company, call the customer service department. Close the door while you do this.
• Remember that genuine callers won’t mind checks. If you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there.
• For pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up.
• Look out for your older neighbours.

Always remember.

“If in doubt, keep them out“.

If you feel threatened or in danger by the presence of the caller, please don’t hesitate to call 999 for an emergency response. Also report any suspicious people or vehicles in your area via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101. Even the smallest piece of information can prove to be crucial in making arrests and securing justice for victims.

Two-in-One Car Theft

In a recent case, Burglars entered a property by smashing a window. They then searched through the house. NYP believes they were looking for car keys. This type of crime is known as a 2-in-1 theft, because thieves break into your house to steal car keys, then take the car.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Fortunately the thieves weren’t successful in stealing a vehicle this time, but break-ins like this one are extremely traumatic for victims and can still cause a lot of damage to your home. While sadly burglaries can happen to anyone, these five steps could help you reduce the risk of 2-in-1 break-ins.

1. Install really good security devices, such as an accredited “invisible immobiliser” or lockable bollards on your drive

2. If one car is worth a lot more than the other, park the cheaper one in a way that blocks the more expensive one in to deter thieves

3. Never leave your keys somewhere they can be hooked through the letterbox of your home

4. If you car has keyless entry you can buy a faraday pouch for under a tenner. These stop thieves using a transmitting device to steal your car without even accessing the key

5. Light and sound are some of the best ways to put thieves off – alarms, security lights and CCTV

NYP Crime Prevention Advice

The NYP website has some excellent articles on how to protect your home from burglary. Just access the NYP website and search on burglary prevention.

https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/search?q=burglary+prevention

These articles include how to secure your flat, making your house more secure by securing your garden, marking your property, and improving the security of doors and windows. They also give general advice. Here’s what NYP recommends you do before you go out:

• Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes.
• Double-lock any door.
• Make sure that any valuables are out of sight.
• Keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening.
• Never leave car documents or ID in obvious places such as kitchens or hallways.
• In the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on.
• If you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night.
• Set your burglar alarm.
• Make sure the side gate is locked.
• Lock your shed or garage.
• Lock your bike inside a secure shed or garage, to a robust fitting bolted to the ground or wall, like a ground anchor.

Here are five tips from NYP to help you keep your home and belongings stay safe while you’re away:

1. If you’re off on holiday and wish to post anything on social media, make sure your posts aren’t public and that they’re only seen by your friends.
2. Leave lights and a radio on a timer to make the property appear occupied.
3. Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property or join a Neighbourhood or resident Watch Scheme.
4. Consider asking your neighbours to close curtains after dark and to park on your drive.
5. Remember to cancel newspaper and milk deliveries.