BREAK INS
BREAK INS
Myself and my neighbour have both been broken into yesterday. We live in Tredown Road, and I believe there was another break in in Lawrie Park. Young men were seen walking up and down the road a few days ago, apparently looking for suitable houses to break into. PLEASE be ultra vigilant for your own and your neighbours sake, and report any suspicious behaviour to the police. Break in's are rife at this time of year, as the thiefs take all the presents from under the tree along with other small valuables.[/b]
Another tip.
If you have expensive electrical items bought for xmas, DO NOT put the empty boxes outside for the dustman in full view, you are just advertising the fact you have all that new gear availiable for nicking.
If you let the cardboard get nice and damp somewhere it will squash up really small and fit in your wheely bin
If you have expensive electrical items bought for xmas, DO NOT put the empty boxes outside for the dustman in full view, you are just advertising the fact you have all that new gear availiable for nicking.
If you let the cardboard get nice and damp somewhere it will squash up really small and fit in your wheely bin
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hdekretser
- Posts: 15
- Joined: 16 Jan 2008 08:50
- Location: Sydenham
suspicious caller
Someone called around last night to our house in Princethorpe Road around 6.30pm saying that they were offering to do a free survey on the house related to the recent bad weather. They said they were new in the area and weren't selling anything! The man asked whether I owned the property or rented and did I want someone to pop around to do a free survey.
As we had concerns about our house I gave him more attention than I would usually. He asked whether I would be in during the day or just the evening, what my name was and asked my phone number. Fortunately my partner interrupted and stopped me giving our phone number and the man scurried away very quickly.
Without going into every detail, instinct told us everything about him was suspicious. I realised if I had given him my phone number they could call to find out if I was in or not.
Has anyone else had someone calling with a similar offer? If anything, it's a reminder to me to be careful what information we give to strangers who call at our doors.
As we had concerns about our house I gave him more attention than I would usually. He asked whether I would be in during the day or just the evening, what my name was and asked my phone number. Fortunately my partner interrupted and stopped me giving our phone number and the man scurried away very quickly.
Without going into every detail, instinct told us everything about him was suspicious. I realised if I had given him my phone number they could call to find out if I was in or not.
Has anyone else had someone calling with a similar offer? If anything, it's a reminder to me to be careful what information we give to strangers who call at our doors.
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Nickerbockers
- Posts: 228
- Joined: 31 Oct 2007 13:04
- Location: Sydenham
This is all very worrying. My mum lives on the borders of Forest Hill and Catford, and her neighbour said she'd left her back door unlocked by mistake at night, and she woke to find muddy footprints all over her living room, and stopping outside her bedroom door - sends chills through me to think about how lucky she was. Nothing was even stolen.
But it sounds like we have a few new residents in the surrounding areas and we all need to be very careful.
But it sounds like we have a few new residents in the surrounding areas and we all need to be very careful.
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Nickerbockers
- Posts: 228
- Joined: 31 Oct 2007 13:04
- Location: Sydenham
Re: BREAK INS
God, I live in Lawrie Park Road! Thank God I live in a first floor flat, if I was still in my old place (which was nearby) that was fully accessible by slipping through the gate at the side, I'd be so scared right now!!!Rosie wrote:Myself and my neighbour have both been broken into yesterday. We live in Tredown Road, and I believe there was another break in in Lawrie Park. Young men were seen walking up and down the road a few days ago, apparently looking for suitable houses to break into. PLEASE be ultra vigilant for your own and your neighbours sake, and report any suspicious behaviour to the police. Break in's are rife at this time of year, as the thiefs take all the presents from under the tree along with other small valuables.[/b]
We were burgled about 5 years ago in Westwood Hill and afterwards I called the Crime Prevention office who sent an officer round to give us advice on security.
One thing he said to me - which served me well some weeks later when I had a well-dressed lady begging for "money for her gas meter" come knocking, was that you do not have to open your front door to anyone you don't want to talk to. It sounds obvious, but I would always open the door before not knowing who it was and what they wanted. I don't now. If you get salespeople, speak through the window, tell them to write for an appt and you'll arrange a time, if you're interested. When I had that lady knocking I talked through the glass door and said I didn't have any money, sorry, and that I couldn't open the door because my cat was in heat. Nowadays I always establish who the person is before opening the door and I only open it if I want to. Its your house, and your time.
One thing he said to me - which served me well some weeks later when I had a well-dressed lady begging for "money for her gas meter" come knocking, was that you do not have to open your front door to anyone you don't want to talk to. It sounds obvious, but I would always open the door before not knowing who it was and what they wanted. I don't now. If you get salespeople, speak through the window, tell them to write for an appt and you'll arrange a time, if you're interested. When I had that lady knocking I talked through the glass door and said I didn't have any money, sorry, and that I couldn't open the door because my cat was in heat. Nowadays I always establish who the person is before opening the door and I only open it if I want to. Its your house, and your time.
It might be worth noting that leaving doors open can invalidate house insurance cover, since not "forcible entry". Locks have to be not only installed, but also engaged.Nickerbockers wrote:This is all very worrying. My mum lives on the borders of Forest Hill and Catford, and her neighbour said she'd left her back door unlocked by mistake at night, and she woke to find muddy footprints all over her living room, and stopping outside her bedroom door - sends chills through me to think about how lucky she was. Nothing was even stolen.
But it sounds like we have a few new residents in the surrounding areas and we all need to be very careful.
There was a case a few years ago where an insurance co. were trying hard not to pay out on a burglary because it transpired that bedroom windows were left unlocked, even though the thief entered by jemmying a downstairs door! Some policies even insist that all house and car keys are kept in one's bedroom or the policy cover will be invalidated. Small print is a wonderful thing...
Keys must be kept in bedroom ???!!!! Surely not.
When we were burgled the thief got in by breaking a glass panel in the front door without breaking the locks (must have been a skinny thing) and got out via the French doors.. the keys to the doors were on the table. I'm pleased actually that the keys were there, as it meant that no damage was done (apart from one pane of glass). The insurance company didn't question any of it and replaced our cameras and hi fi within weeks. Maybe it depends on who you have, we've never bothered to read small print.
When we were burgled the thief got in by breaking a glass panel in the front door without breaking the locks (must have been a skinny thing) and got out via the French doors.. the keys to the doors were on the table. I'm pleased actually that the keys were there, as it meant that no damage was done (apart from one pane of glass). The insurance company didn't question any of it and replaced our cameras and hi fi within weeks. Maybe it depends on who you have, we've never bothered to read small print.
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stone-penge
- Posts: 292
- Joined: 5 Nov 2004 14:40
- Location: Newlands park
Re: suspicious caller
Part of my job currently is to knock on peoples doors following up heat insulation letters that are sent out as part of a council backed scheme (not in the Sydenham area) It worries me sometimes how casually people let me into their homes,although I do have a photobadge with a number to check up on, if in doubt get the number from their badge without taking the chain off the door and check them out .If it is a genuine caller then they obviously won't mind you doing this but, on the contrary, be pleased.hdekretser wrote:Someone called around last night to our house in Princethorpe Road around 6.30pm saying that they were offering to do a free survey on the house related to the recent bad weather. They said they were new in the area and weren't selling anything! The man asked whether I owned the property or rented and did I want someone to pop around to do a free survey.
As we had concerns about our house I gave him more attention than I would usually. He asked whether I would be in during the day or just the evening, what my name was and asked my phone number. Fortunately my partner interrupted and stopped me giving our phone number and the man scurried away very quickly.
Without going into every detail, instinct told us everything about him was suspicious. I realised if I had given him my phone number they could call to find out if I was in or not.
Has anyone else had someone calling with a similar offer? If anything, it's a reminder to me to be careful what information we give to strangers who call at our doors.
No one has yet done this with me though...