The appeal comes after a recent vamoose burglary in Halton, Aylesbury Vale. This is where offenders break in to a house, find the car keys and steal the car. The latest incident took place on Friday 4 January (04/01).
Vamoose burglaries have increased in last quarter in Aylesbury Vale. From six in August/September to eight between 12 to 25 October. Car-owners in the rural areas of Edlesborough, Slapton and Pitstone are asked to be particularly vigilant and report any activity however trivial it may seem.
No specific vehicle type is being targeted but most have been new models which could be of a reasonable value. The offences take place at night and cars have been stolen from both occupied and unoccupied houses.
Det Insp Russ Murden who is investigating the burglaries said: “Thieves can break in almost silently and within seconds. If your front and back doors are locked securely and the keys are not adjacent to either exit, taking those extra seconds to find the keys could substantially reduce your risk of becoming a victim of a vamoose car crime.
“Vamoose’ burglaries often happen when car keys can be seen or are left next to a door or window of a building. Handbags are one of the first places offenders look to find car keys.”
In order to avoid being the victim of a vamoose burglary, house owners are advised to
- Make sure that your vehicle is properly dead-locked and that the alarm is fully activated.
- Lock all car windows and doors.
- At home keep your car keys away from any windows and doors to prevent them from being "fished" through letterboxes, or seen from outside to tempt the offender but do make sure you know where they are in case of fire.
If you don't want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org . Personal details are not taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
