Security advice following break-ins

We’re warning residents about break-ins where burglars are using bricks or other heavy objects to smash the glass on windows and doors before stealing personal belongings.

In the past month we have received multiple reports of properties being targeted by burglars in this way in Grantham, Potterhanworth, Leasingham, and the Doddington Park area of Lincoln. They have carried out untidy searches of the properties before making off with jewellery and cash.

The latest incidents took place in Barrowby Gate between 1.30pm and 4pm on 8 October, High Road in Manthorpe on 2 October between 1.30pm and 5pm, and Vale Road between 7.45am and 5.45pm on 1 October.

We are keeping an open mind about what is being done with these items, but we believe that they may be offered for sale on social media sites like Facebook Marketplace, being offered in person, or attempts are being made to sell them in pawn shops or other second-hand businesses.

While there are often good deals for second-hand items, jewellery which seems very cheap, and a  deal which seems “too good to be true”, means it is probably worth considering whether it might be stolen – and we’d really like to hear from you so you could share those adverts with us and allow our detectives to dig into the accounts behind the sales, or let us know who may have approached you directly.

We have been following a number of lines of investigation since these reports were made, including considering any links between the incidents, door-to-door enquiries, and viewing any footage available.

Officers are also visiting local stores to make them aware of the crimes, and gather any available evidence. 

If you have a doorbell camera or dashcam cameras and were in the area during the time of the incidents, please check your footage and contact us if they have captured anything which might help around the times of the offences.

If you can help, please contact our detective at North and South Kesteven via [email protected], quoting "NSK Burglary Series".

Please also take some time to read our tips on how to Keep burglars out of your property | Lincolnshire Police (lincs.police.uk):

• Make your property more visible – overgrown bushes, trees, high fences or walls make it easier for a burglar to get close to a home unnoticed, and provide somewhere to hide while carrying out a burglary or theft from the property.
• Consider installing CCTV which could be used to monitor your property, including by alters via a smartphone. For advice and approved suppliers of CCTV visit the National Security Inspectorate and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.
• Consider an accredited burglar alarm system with audible alarm boxes mounted high at the front and rear of your home. Two visible audible alarm boxes are better than one. Mount them at the front and rear of your home, high up to resist tampering. The police will typically respond to a burglar alarm if requested to do so by a monitoring company but are less likely to respond to an unmonitored alarm.  
• For advice and approved suppliers of alarms visit the National Security Inspectorate and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.
• External lighting is a good deterrent and is recommended at doors as it makes it safer for you when coming and going after dark.  
• Consider using an automatic plugin time switch inside the home to operate a lamp or light at pre-set times when you’re away.