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Dear Resident Thank you for taking the local priority survey recently, we note that you highlighted Burglary as a priority issue in the survey so we wanted to provide you with an update on this local matter.
The police are investigating three burglaries which have been committed in Barnet with a similar method. So far they have targeted addresses with elderly occupants, but we are encouraging all residents to be vigilant to this particular type of burglary.
The offenders are:
• Asking to check water quality or a water leak
• They will appear presentable and have good quality spoken English
• Will say they are from a reputable organisation such as the council or waterboard
• May produce an ID Lanyard or laminated sheet of paper
• Will take you to your kitchen and run a tap leaving the front door insecure
• May have previously visited to suggest an inspection
If anyone attends your home address unsolicited –
• Keep your door closed and speak to them through the door/remote doorbell
• Find a number either on the internet or phonebook for the company they are claiming to be from
• Call and verify their ID using that method
• If in doubt call 101, or 999 if that person is still at your door
• Do not let anyone into your house if you are unsure who they are
• If a police officer attends your house you can call 101 to verify their ID
While we will continue to pursue burglars in the area, there are steps you can do to help keep your property safe. Make sure that you: Double lock your door every time you leave the house If you can, move garden furniture or bins away from windows so that thieves cannot use them to gain access. Use laminated glass or security film on ground floor and accessible windows. Use a sash stop if you have sash windows to prevent people opening them enough to climb through. If your windows open outwards, use a key operated lock – check these are locked before leaving the house. Make sure all valuables are out of sight. Keep handbags and keys away from letterboxes or cat flaps. In the evening shut the curtains and leave lights on. Set your burglar alarm Lock your shed or garage Mark, register or record your valuables.
Please go to our website to find the latest advice and guidance on keeping yourself safe and protecting your home. We hope the information above is useful and addresses to some degree the concerns that you have raised. If you have experienced this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years. You may also want to rate this message to let us know if this information was useful or not or use the system to change which issues we update you about, you can do these things quickly and easily by logging in or keep an eye out for the periodic survey reminders. | 
