Burglars are marking houses as targets for break-ins with small, transparent stickers advertising a locksmith. The signs, which purport to offer a ‘24-hour service’ but include a fake phone number, are typically placed by letterboxes. Police in London have already linked one burglary to the stickers and have received dozens of complaints from residents across the capital who have found them on their doors.
Scam: The stickers - which have already been linked to one local burglary - are printed with the words '24/7 Locksmith - Repair Installation Locked out' and a fake telephone number of 0203 582 8175
Officers believe that ‘scouts’ place the stickers on properties they deem to be vulnerable, after checking whether the owners are at home during the day and if windows and doors are locked. It is thought the stickers were designed so that if a scout is apprehended while marking a house, they can claim they are simply handing out advertising material.
A spokesman for Wandsworth Council in south-west London said: ‘These stickers are clearly not for advertising purposes. ‘They’re not going next to the lock where you may notice them and the phone number has never existed. They’re difficult to spot unless you’re on the lookout.’
Inspector David Bannister from Wandsworth police added: ‘At this time of year with the darker evenings there is traditionally a rise in burglaries, particularly between 3pm and 7pm. ‘There have been a number of front doors found with stickers, giving details of a locksmith, which enquires reveal is not a genuine company.
'It is assessed that these markers are being used by potential burglars to mark potential targets which are then returned to subsequently.
‘If you find a sticker on your door, the best thing to do is remove it.’
Cllr Jonathan Cook, the council's crime prevention spokesman, said: ‘There is growing evidence that some organised teams of burglars may be using this method to target homes in South London.
‘We are therefore urging local residents to keep a very close eye out for these stickers and if they find one to remove it straight away.
‘It also goes without saying that if people can beef up their home security by fitting sturdy locks to doors and windows and alarms, then this will always reduce the chances of them falling victim to thieves and burglars.’
Inspector David Bannister from Wandsworth police added: ‘At this time of year with the darker evenings there is traditionally a rise in burglaries, particularly between 3pm and 7pm.
‘There have been a number of front doors found with stickers, giving details of a locksmith, which enquires reveal is not a genuine company. These are placed near the main lock.
‘It is assessed that these markers are being used by potential burglars to mark potential targets which are then returned to subsequently. If you find a sticker on your door, the best thing to do is remove it.’
The council later said that police had received ‘lots of new intelligence’ after a warning was issued to residents - and are now following up a number of new leads to catch those who are responsible.
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Burglars have been using coded chalk symbols to let other criminals know whether a property is worth targeting, MailOnline reported in September.
The marks, dubbed the Da Pinci Code, are made by would-be thieves to indicate if the house is vulnerable, revealing who is living in the house and whether there is anything worth stealing.
Chillingly, one sign in Walkden, Greater Manchester, in the shape of an open book, said a vulnerable female resident is the occupant and another symbol indicated a 'nervous' homeowner.
source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2509221/Burglars-target-homes-marked-stickers-scouts-check-streets-easy-targets.html
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Being locked out, losing your keys or incorrect use of the lock are most frequent reasons the emergency locksmiths are called in. If you want to get the service to run smoothly and have the job done properly, you need to consider several issues first.
British Standard is a specification of recommended procedure related to delivering a service or supplying products. High security locks also bear a British Standard Kitemark (BSI). If you want to find out how to check if a lock meets the BS36 standard, where to look for a Kitemark or what kind of locks are best on the market, read the following!
Would you like to stay safe and get a discount on your property insurance premiums? First and foremost, you need to get Police and insurance companies approved locks installed. The more secure your locks are, the cheaper your insurance might get.
To protect your property from a burglary it is best to invest in burglary resistant, anti-snapping locks approved by the Police and by the insurers. Choosing the right one is not however that simple. An anti-snap lock must fit to your existing locks and doors. It is best to search for a good local locksmith who will help you choose the right anti-snap lock for your doors and windows.
In 2019/20 there were over 402 thousand burglaries in England and Wales alone, a significant part of which took place in London.Having the locks or your doors forced by a burglar is certainly not a pleasant perspective, especially when you end up losing valuables and having your personal safety threatened.
Being locked out tends to be a traumatic experience, especially when you are in a hurry. If you get your door locks replaced or repaired in advance, you can avoid such problems as a snapped key or a flimsy door lock which will eventually break and leave you locked out. However, emergencies can happen to anyone, anytime. What to do if you get locked out of your property?
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