Ensure your homes and property remain safe

Merseyside Police is urging people to take an extra five minutes to ensure their homes and property remain safe and secure.

With the introduction of increasingly sophisticated security and alarm systems installed in cars criminals have resorted to more elaborate ways of stealing vehicles including entering houses with a view to stealing car and van keys for vehicles parked outside.

The people that want these vehicles are professionals and the vehicle can be stolen to order, utilised for joy-riding, used to transport offenders or even be used in other crimes.

Offences are predominantly committed in the evening between 7pm and 10pm or overnight between 10pm and 4am with offenders typically targeting properties via insecure windows or doors while the owner is asleep or using a device through the letter box to remove house and car keys which are left in the hallway or left inside the door.

Offenders will then either push the vehicle off the drive and start it or simply drive the vehicle out and make off

Similar incidents have been reported in areas all across the Force in recent months and officers want motorists to take extra precautions to ensure they don’t fall victim.

Chief Superintendent Louise Harrison said: "Many of these offences are preventable with the offenders gaining entry to the house via an insecure door or window. Other offences have occurred where car keys have been left near to the front door and implements have been used to remove the keys via the letter-box even when the occupiers have been asleep inside.

"I would urge everyone to take an extra five minutes every day to make sure their homes and properties remain secure both during the evening and overnight – even when they are at home.

"If you have a garage use it or if your park on a driveway ensure you close your gates at night and consider putting an obstruction such as your wheelie bin infront of your vehicle.

"Always put your car keys out of sight and never leave them in the back of your door and if possible use a steering wheel lock on your vehicle, which are unappealing to thieves looking to make a fast getaway.

"These people are looking for the easiest and least confrontational way to steal a vehicle. Anything you can do to make it harder for them means you are less likely to fall victim.

"We all need to be vigilant. If you see anyone acting suspiciously report it to the police. These offenders will need to walk up driveways to look through doors and windows to see if there are keys in sight of a door or window. If you notice any such behaviour contact the police on 101 or in an emergency dial 999.

"In response to the increase in car key burglaries an operation has been put in place to put offenders on the back foot. Extra patrols, consisting of uniformed and plain clothes officers, are being deployed to areas that have seen an increase in this type of crime at key times but everyone can do their bit to prevent this crime happening in the first place."

ADVICE To minimise the risk of car key burglary Merseyside Police have issued the following advice:

If you have a garage, please park your car in it. Many people with garages use them for storage. This will keep your cars out of the sight of preying eyes

On entering the house lock the front door behind you

Never leave your car keys near a door or window. Criminals can hook keys through open windows and letter-boxes. It is therefore vital that householders do hide the keys from view. People have keys stolen without anyone even entering the premises

Do not leave car keys in an obvious place; make it as hard as possible for the thief

Do not leave house keys in the back of your door lock

Consider installing security lights to the front and rear of your property

If you are threatened with violence for your car keys is to hand them over do not put yourself at risk

Special letter-box cowlings are also available – they allow your papers and post to be delivered, but stops the ‘hook & canes’ fishing

Householders also need to make sure that they take other simple crime prevention measures to ensure that they don’t become victims of sneak-in thieves or burglary, such as remembering not to leave doors and windows unlocked

The Force is also offering the following crime prevention advice to keep homes safe this winter:

During the dark nights, use a light timing device to switch the lights on (ensuring your blinds/curtains are drawn)

Always lock your windows and doors. If you haven't got windows locks, you are advised to get window locks fitted. If you have window locks - use them

Always check your front and back door are secure even if you are in

Secure your shed and garage properly. Don't leave tools lying around

Security mark all your home and garden equipment with full postcode using a UV marker pen or permanent marker. This can help make it easier for victims to be reunited with your property if you are the victim of a burglary and the items are recovered