Burglars are exploiting a weakness in people's homes to steal their car keys.
According to Merseyside Police thieves target rear patio doors or PVC kitchen doors and attempt to snap locks off. They then take your keys, enabling them to steal your car from outside your home.
To combat this police advise using patio locks that lock doors together or changing lock barrels for anti-snap locks. Patio doors and window alarms that can be set at night can alert residents to anyone tampering with them.
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More basic car security measures such as steering wheel locks or wheel clamps should also be considered at night to make stealing vehicles more difficult. The advice comes after a burglary took place on Wednesday the 8th June in Hightown.
A black BMW X5 was stolen from the driveway of a home on Rathmore Crescent between 03:00am and 04:00am. Police are now investigating the issue.
A post on the Sefton Police Facebook page read: "We are investigating a 'car key burglary' that took place between 03:00am and 04:00am on Wednesday the 8th June, where a black BMW X5 was stolen from the driveway of an address on Rathmore Crescent in Churchtown. Officers have attended, along with CSI and CCTV enquiries are ongoing.
"Neighbours in the immediate area have been letter-dropped with an appeal for witnesses/CCTV but as yet, we have not had any contact from some of these neighbours with CCTV cameras. If you have received one of these letters, please contact us as per the letter.
"We are aware of other CCTV in the Balmoral Drive area that may be related to this burglary and enquiries are ongoing at the relevant addresses.T
"he method of entry used by car key burglars is often very similar. Generally they target rear patio doors or UPVC kitchen doors and attempt to snap locks off.
"This can be combatted by using patio locks that lock the doors together and/or changing lock barrels for anti-snap locks. Patio door/window alarms that can be set at night can alert residents to people tampering with doors and windows.
"More basic car security measures such as steering wheel locks or wheel clamps should also be considered at night to make stealing vehicles more difficult.
"If you have CCTV in the area between Rathmore Crescent and Balmoral Drive that you think may be relevant to these enquiries please contact PCSO 0092 on 0151 832 8313."
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