Hi all,
I’m not sure if my videos link will work...On Sunday lunchtime my parent’s house was burgled while they were out. They returned to find their front door smashed open. The burglars parked a black saloon Audi in the driveway and filled their car boot. The registration plate of the car was SE65 SGU. It was caught by a neighbour’s CCTV camera (they ripped my parents camera system out of the wall!) They drove down the road and then attempted to break into a house on Palace Gates Road but the residents were in and they pretended to be lost asking for directions and then drove off. The suspects are white, in their twenties with Traveller accents.
Two 184 buses stopped outside the house as it was being burgled and someone walked past and stopped to have a look before continuing on. If anyone has any further information please do contact me. My parents are pensioners and my Mum is now scared to be at home alone. They have lived on the street for over fifty years!
many thanks,
Pam Dhinsa
Replies
Following this burglary and other local break-ins, the police have issued the following:
Residents of Alexandra Ward,
Recently we have had a spate of Burglaries in LANSDOWNE ROAD, VALLANCE ROAD and ALEXANDRA PARK ROAD along with other neighbouring wards on the borough.
Please ensure you review your home security. Taking simple precautions can remove the opportunity for burglars targeting your home. We are always happy to speak to residents to offer advice. Feel free to contact us to arrange a Home Security Survey.
1- Low front boundary; keep hedges and walls at the front of your house low (under 1 metre) so burglars have nowhere to hide.
2 - Secure side gate; keep side gates locked at all times. Open gates mean burglars can easily access your home without being seen by passers-by or neighbours.
3 - High side and rear boundaries with trellis and spiky defensive planting; keep hedges, walls and fences around your back garden high (over 1.8 metres). Add lightweight trellis to gates and fences and plant some prickly plants such as those on page 4 to make it harder for burglars to climb over.
4 - Gravel driveway and path; gravel driveways and paths make it harder for burglars to go undetected.
5 - Security light; install an outside security light so that intruders can’t approach without being seen.
6 - Intruder alarm system; install a burglar alarm system.
7 - Secure shed door and window; always keep your shed locked and secured. Often sheds contain valuables such as power tools and bicycles.
8 - Never leave tools lying around; never leave tools lying around as they can be used as a way of breaking into your home.
Regards
PC Sener Ibrahim 467YR & PCSO Jeff Darby 7135YR
Alexandra Ward
Twitter: @MPSAlexandraYR
Pam that is awful news, and I only hope your parents are beginning to get over the shock a bit.
Really hope that someone spotted them or that they get caught next time they try. So traumatic to happen to your parents. We all need to be more vigilant of comings and goings on our roads. Rachael X
So sorry to hear this, Pam! How terrifying for your parents, and how extraordinary that nobody noticed the door being smashed in on midday Sunday!
Thank goodness that the car numberplate was filmed - hope they will be caught - but it doesn't give peace of mind.
Thanks Annabel. I’m especially concerned by the fact that they targeted three houses in the area, all owned by pensioners. I know that my parents more than likely won’t get their possessions back but a gang preying on pensioners needs to be stopped. Apparently they have been spotted sitting in this car during the day for a number of weeks, obviously staking our the area.
Thanks Pam for alerting us to the details of the burglary.
Oh wow - it's amazing how much people seem to know about them! Not much good after the dreadful event. Us neighbours need to be more vigilant, and keep an eye out for a black saloon Audi with registration number SE65 SGU.
Unfortunately the number is a fake one as the car with that number plate is for sale in a forecourt in dundee
Ah well. We might have guessed, I suppose.