Police urge householders to keep keys safe

Police are appealing for the public to keep their keys safe following two burglaries and two car thefts from houses in west Belfast in recent days.

It is believed that both houses, situated in the Stewartstown Road and Ladybrook areas, were broken into in the early hours of Saturday morning, and car keys stolen. A Citroen Saxo car and Peugeot 406 were subsequently taken.

One of the vehicles was later discovered burnt out in the Dunmurry area while the second was found burnt out on the Glen Road.

Police said that recent improvements in car security meant that the easiest way for a thief to steal a car was to break into a house and take the actual keys for it - what is known as a ‘Creeper’ burglary.

Burglars and thieves are now targeting and burgling houses with cars in the driveway or even in the garage. Police advise that members of the public should secure their keys and their house, not only when it is unoccupied, but also when they are in it at night to avoid these types of burglaries.

Further information on home and car safety can be obtained from the Crime Prevention Office at your local station.

(MB/SP)