Thieves are targeting homes to steal cars

A recent trend has highlighted that burglars will target properties with pricey cars parked outside. The property is broken into with the sole purpose of stealing the keys to the car and then the owners awake to find their car gone.

East Sussex Priority Crime Team are advising owners of expensive cars to keep their keys safe by ensuring the doors to their homes are double locked and keys are out of “phishing” distance.

DI Andrew Harbour said; “We have seen an increase in car key burglaries in East Sussex recently whereby the burglars target those properties that have only closed the door and not locked them from within.

“There have been five such crimes over recent weeks where the burglars have used a slipping device to open the doors without causing noise or damage and then drove off in the owners car. This can simply be avoided by locking your doors from within when going to bed.

“With these types of offences we really need the publics help in catching the criminals and ask that if anyone sees something they deem suspicious to call us, no matter what the time of day. We have dedicated patrols waiting 24/7 to respond to such calls.

“East Sussex have now increased patrols and the use of sophisticated number plate reading technology to identify those responsible for these offences and prevent any more.

If you have any information that could help police with their enquiries please call 101 quoting Operation Discus or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”