Burglary on Pellatt Road

[lucyW]

Our house (Pellatt road) was broken into on Tuesday daytime, they forced entry through our front window which is partially obscured by a hedge. We had a lot taken but unfortunately the police found no significant fingerprints or leads, if anyone saw/heard anything please do get in touch. Thanks

[James Barber]

We had an attempted break in two years ago and managed to repel them. Sight of my naked body charging them freaked them out and they ran away.

The crime prevention advice we had was keep hedges no higher than waist height as any higher and burglars can work un observed. Agent Orange had nothing on me after that experience and advice.

Hope the Police have offered lots of support and crime prevention advice to you and your neighbours and free property marking kits.

If not please PM me.

[james84]

Really sorry to hear this Lucy. There seem sto be a pattern emerging, as tehre have been burglaries at the same time (Tuesday daytime) every week for a couple of weeeks now.

I really hope that they get caught soon.

[WrightC]

Sorry to hear this Lucy. I also got burgled on Monday 20th September, I live on Crystal Palace Road, & they forced entry through my front room window too. Unlike your property my window is not obscured and they still managed to get into my home in broad daylight! My neighbour was also burgled in May; they entered their home the same way. This is happening in the Dulwich area too frequent, we need more police on the beat in the area. They managed to get away with ?5k worth of things. Police found no fingerprints or leads either. This need to stop NOW!!!

[cate]

Sorry to hear about your burglaries. I have had two in the past, although not in this area. What kind of windows did you have? Do you think there is anything you can do to the windows to prevent this in the future? A neighbour in my street foiled someone trying to get into her front sash window.

[WrightC]

@ Cate, thank you for your concern. I have sash windows with secure locks (or so I thought). I was advised by the police to screw my windows shut, as I rarely open my front windows being on the ground floor, pollution etc. I have since got new locks and am getting an alarm fitted next week so hopefully I won?t experience this again. However this will encourage a burglar to move onto another property, which is not solving the problem in the area.

[ianr]

Sorry to persist, but what sort of secure window lock was it?

[Jeremy]

Were they like these, and if so, do you know how they got past them?

http://www.abbeylocks.co.uk/images/sash_window_lock.jpg

[WrightC]

@ Ianr and Jeremy my window locks were Yale Window Bolts, see attached.

They forced the window open and the bolts actually split through the wood of the window frame. I now have locks like yours Jeremy, which seems more secure, there is no way the window can be forced open with these new lock

[candj]

Your alarm company can also install something on your windows called Vipers which sets off the alarm if there is a strong vibration ie, glass or wood frame breaking. Well worth putting on windows and french doors, imo, in addition to all the above locking mechanisms.

[james84]

WrightC, the devices candj is talking about are availible free from the victim support service. When we were broken into the other week the victim support guys asked if we wanted a security assessment, which I took up. The guy was great- he cam in and fitted new locks, a chain on the door, an anti kicking strip on the front door and gave us several vibration detecting alarms for our windows, and a new smoke alarm, all of which were free of charge- its definitely worth having them around and see what they can do for you. We knew our security wasnt up to scratch and had ordered new windows and doors, but unfortunatley we had only been living there for 6 weeks so we hadnt had them all fitted at that time, but the security assessment was well worth having.

I do agree with you however that this seems to be happening far to much in the area. The police have suggested that it may be the same people working the area and are likely to be re offenders who have just been released from prison because of the sudden rise in burgalries and the professional way in which each one is being done. They said tehy were going to increase patrols in the area but since we were broken into I have not actual seen one policeman patroling, but a hell of a lot of dodgy characters hanging around (alot more now as I am suspicous of everyone), but it does seem like ED is an easy target- most people are out at work in the day and the streets are pretty empty. Perhaps a petition sshould be organised or something to increase police patrols in the area? Or perhaps lobby for more cctv coverage locally?

[ianr]

>Ianr and Jeremy my window locks were Yale Window Bolts, see attached.

Oh, very similar to mine, with a Wickes brand. That's an eye-opener.

I wouldn't have thought it insecure. There's a 12mm metal barrel casing goes into the outer window, and the bolt itself can penetrate by a full 20mm when fully screwed in. But then I see that there's a couple of millimetres play between the bolt and the outer barrel, which might allow some kind of hammer effect if someone is able to exert sharp vertical force on the window, and maybe also some helpful torque. And if the barrel is located near the top edge of the outer frame, and the wood isn't too strong ... I can see why they recommend fitting them in pairs. I've searched on YouTube for videos of breaking open locked sash windows, but so far, unlike those on door locks, where many exploits are non-destructive, nothing found. Do you happen to know if the force was applied to the top or the bottom window?

Thank you for the information, and commiserations to those who've sufferered break-ins. It's an upsetting experience.

[WrightC]

@ James84 I have Crime Prevention Officer visiting tomorrow, I will mention the Vipers and other freebies!! Thank You.

Thanks Candj too.

[WrightC]

@ Ianr, they forced my bottom window with a crowbar (wonder bar) apparently, also the window bolts were fitted in pairs at both end of the window. The wood wasn't strong enough to hold the force is what the police advised. Thanks for the info; I have since gone for better locks now, so hopefully I am safe..

[Old Yeller]

CUT YOUR HEDGE

Keep it to a level that allows other people to see into your garden...and so your ground floor windows are plainly visible on all sides from the street.

[Tobester999]

When my girlfriend got burgled, the police advised her to trim her bush, and then couldn't understand why she collapsed into a fit of giggles...

[will dex]

Yeah, with a straight face the genuinely excellent local policeman said to me they would contact the "Porn Squad" - which had me in stitches, -they meant they have a team who go around porn shops looking for stolen goods ofcourse.... - i wonder if they do it to lighten the mood??

-agree tho, having been burgled in ED earlier this summer it is quite alarming and id say be very snoopy of anyone hanging around outside houses in the side streets during the day (unless they are pushing a bugaboo and clutching a Nero...)

for info - also a Tuesday, during the day.

[Jeremy]

Ahem... "pawn".

[will dex]

..you seem to know a lot about it Jeremy...

[louisiana]

This is the kind of thing we're up against:

"[bW], 19, was put on an new three-year rehabilitation scheme being trialled by Essex Police last October after he admitted 17 counts of theft and burglary, and asked for another 645 to be taken into account."

What's known as a prolific burglar. These kind of peeps are probably doing 10-20-30+ places a week.