POLICE are warning householders in Middlesbrough to make sure their property is secure after a spate of "two-inone" burglaries.
The incidents, where thieves get into homes and take property and vehicles, have taken place in the past week. Detectives believe thieves are using a variety of tactics. Some are targeting top quality vehicles which are then sold on or cloned.
Cars stolen recently range from an Audi A3 Sport valued at more than £25,000 to a £20,000 BMW Mini Cooper, a Mazda 6 worth about £18,000 and a £10,000 VW Golf.
In other cases, thieves have got in via cat or dog flaps or by cutting through patio door locks.
Det Sgt Adrian Bradley, of Middlesbrough Police, cited cases where opportunist thieves walk into a property and find a coat or bag containing car keys in a porch.
They then use the vehicle to transport stolen goods.
"We are also seeing thieves using a length of bamboo to fish for people's car keys on a hall table or shelf."
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