Police warn of rise in two-in-one burglaries with criminals targeting homes with expensive cars and cat-flaps

Police in South Yorkshire are urging people to secure their homes following a rise in two-in-one burglaries - where a criminal gets into a property, steals car keys and then drives away in the vehicle - with 65 offences reported to the force in just one month.

Worryingly, of the 65 burglaries committed between January 11, and February 7, nearly a quarter (14) were as a result of the home being left unlocked overnight, South Yorkshire Police revealed.

The force’s lead for serious acquisitive crime, Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Henderson, said: “This is a rise on the previous month and it is too many, especially when in some cases it can be prevented by people simply making sure their doors and windows are locked.

“This is one of the most intrusive crimes and of the most emotive for people. It can leave victims laying awake at night worrying about it.

“We want people to know that there are simple steps they can take to prevent them being a victim of this type of crime including making sure your keys are kept out of view, your house and cars are locked, even when you are at home, and fitting security lights at the front and back of your property.”

A total of 75 cars were stolen during the two-in-one burglaries with the most targeted brands including Vauxhall, Audi, Ford and Volkswagen.

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DCI Henderson said: “While we have traced many of these vehicles, the other half are still outstanding which means they are out there and we would urge anyone who knows anything to contact us.

“The criminals who have these cars use them for a variety of purposes. They will either chop them up for parts; use them for cloning with fake number plates; or export them because they have been stolen to order and this can all be a part of a more serious network of organised crime which we are working hard to prevent.”

DCI Henderson said police teams across the force area are committed to targeting burglary suspects and patrols have been stepped up in areas recently affected.

This includes across Sheffield, where there has been an increase in thieves stealing keys through cat-flaps and letterboxes.

DCI Henderson said: “The most common method is pushing a crane or pole through cat flaps and hooking keys which have been left on display. The simplest way to avoid this happening to you is to get into good habits and not make it easy for thieves.

“By removing your keys out of sight it makes your home much less appealing.”