Hampshire Constabulary

Homeowners urged to be vigilant after Basingstoke burglary

Residents are being reminded to ensure their homes are secure after a burglary in Basingstoke on Thursday, June 16.

Sometime between 4am and 4.30am, the occupant of a property in Elmwood Drive disturbed a burglar who had entered their home through the uPVC front door, which had been secured by pulling up the handle but not deadlocked with a key.

Officers believe the offender may have been looking for car keys to the vehicles parked on the driveway, but due to being disturbed just stole a handbag before leaving the address.

PC Dave Cook, from the Basingstoke Priority Crime Team, said: “Although this burglary occurred during the early hours of the morning, it was already light outside and someone may have seen something suspicious.

“Please remember to double lock your door with a key to prevent burglars releasing door handles using a tool through the letterbox or cat flap.

“If you have any information about who is responsible, please get in touch.”

Hampshire Constabulary offers the following Safer Homes advice:
• Deadlock your doors with the key – don’t just lift up the handle.
• Make use of all door and window locks fitted in your home.
• Consider getting a letter box deflector.
• Keep house keys upstairs or store them near the door out of sight for easy access in an emergency.
• Keep your car keys away from the front door and store them somewhere safe.
• Keep valuable items out of view – if you have electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds, don’t keep it by the window where passers-by can see it.
• Never leave a key under a doormat or on a string through the letterbox – it’s the first place any burglar will look.
• Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place – burglars will happily use your own garden equipment to break into your home.
• If you’ve taken extra security precautions, let would-be burglars know. If you have an alarm, make sure the box can be clearly seen. If you take part in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, display a sticker in your window, and if you have a dog, put up a warning sign.

• Hide financial documents and keys – if someone does break in you don’t want them to also steal from your bank account or take your car.
• Make sure you secure all your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even if you are ‘just popping out’.
• If you are in the garden or upstairs, make sure your downstairs doors are locked – in the summer burglars can often just open the front door and help themselves.