Police in East Cheshire are again urging residents to lock their doors to keep opportunist thieves from their door.
In East Cheshire more than a third of all reported burglaries involve criminals simply walking through a door which has not been locked. In many cases the family is asleep in bed, in other cases they are in the next room, watching television or eating.
Inspector Groom said, "At times in the past year these sneak-ins constituted well over half of all burglaries reported in some parts of the area. That is a ridiculous situation.
"We work hard to identify and catch burglars and we have had a lot of successes, but people have a responsibility to take reasonable measures to protect their property.
"The first rule of crime prevention, where burglary is concerned, is to keep the door locked. That applies whether you are in or out. There are criminals who specialize in sneak-ins. They don′t have to bother forcing a door or window. They just try doors until they come to one that is open. The longer nights which are coming in make that easier.
"They also provide cover for the more traditional burglar. Again, the first line of defence is locked doors and windows. We also advise people not to leave valuables, or keys, near windows where they can be seen from the outside. It is an added incentive for a burglar if he knows there is something good on offer, before he goes in.
"Security lights on the outside of the house are a good investment. They will remove some of the disadvantage of the darker evenings. "More often than not, traditional burglars target houses while the occupier is out. It is worth spending a few pounds on time switches to turn some inside lights on as daylight fades. If the house looks occupied the burglar will probably turn away.
"Think about investing in a security alarm system and if you have one fitted be sure to set it every time you go out and when you go to bed.
"Some of the best crime prevention devices are your eyes. Burglars will usually spend time looking round a street to decide which houses are vulnerable. A sneak-in specialist will be ducking in and out of gardens, trying doors.
"If you see anyone acting suspiciously, call police on 0845 458 0000 and report it. You may be doing your neighbours, or yourself, a big favour."
