Police warn against leaving windows open for burglars

This follows 205 such burglaries since the start of June – 35 per cent of all the burglaries in the area.

Police in Kirklees are urging people to take more care of their homes to avoid falling victim to sneak-in thieves.

The warmer weather in the summer is often the reason people are more likely to leave their homes at risk, said police.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Knopwood, of Kirklees Police, said: "Whilst crime continues to fall across the division, we are still seeing far too many people falling foul of sneak-in burglaries.

"These are offences that could be easily prevented if people took a few simple precautions to ensure that they are not targeted by opportunist thieves."

Between June 2008 and May this year, 1,142 burglary arrests, covering 1,629 offences were made in Kirklees alone.

Arrests, crime prevention and target-hardening work in communities has helped, but houses that offer criminals easy pickings will always be at risk, said police.

DCI Knopwood said: "Points of access, like front doors, need to be kept locked if you are in the garden. At night, ground floor doors and windows should be locked.

"A handbag, wallet, mobile phone or keys left next to an unlocked front door or open window can present an incredibly easy target for opportunist burglars who can take them in just a few seconds. But it only takes a second for you to lock your door and take away that risk."

West Yorkshire Police are reminding people to take the following measures to prevent sneak-in thieves from getting into their homes:

Lock all doors and windows when in the garden or garage;

A security chain from DIY stores can be installed to prevent unwanted entry to the home;

n Never leave keys in the locks of doors or windows;

n Avoid leaving valuables near windows, for example, mobile phones, handbags, jewellery, expensive ornaments and keys.

Further crime prevention advice is available from the West Yorkshire Police website at www.westyorkshire.police.uk or by asking for the local crime reduction officer via 0845 6060606.