Thieves are kicking through kitchen doors
Police in Merton Park are warning about a spate of burglaries where the thieves are kicking through kitchen doors to gain entry to homes.
The area south of Circle Gardens has been particularly hit, where burglars have also been forcing rear and side kitchen and toilet windows.
Police are particularly warning residents with kitchen doors made of uPVC, where the lower panel is uPVC rather than glazed to be vigilant.
A spokesman said: "As these panels are factory-fitted at the point of manufacture of the door, subsequent 'mprovements' to strengthen the door are difficult to make.
"Do-it-yourself attempts to increase security, by drilling into the lower panels of the door to add internal wooden panels for example, may actually compromise the structural integrity of the door, and reduce its strength. We do not recommend doing this.
"Where residents
have been unfortunate enough to be the victim of such a burglary, we have been advising them to consider replacing the uPVC panel with double glazed units instead.
"We ask that residents, especially those with kitchen doors of the design type described, are particularly vigilant, and ensure that property, such as jewellery, lap-tops, photographic equipment, games consoles, and larger quantities of cash are securely stored, and kept out of sight."
Some of the offences have taken place in daylight, but in some instances the burglars were deterred by a house alarm.
Police are carrying out increased patrols in the area, with some in plain clothes.
January 31, 2011