laptop, book and smartphone chained up

Preventing the perfect crime

It is astonishing what lengths thieves go to in order to achieve the ‘perfect crime’

Criminals are using more innovative and underhand tactics, including a method known as the ‘sticker scam’. Initially, the thieves carry out a detailed surveillance of an area and target homes they consider to be the most vulnerable, homes they see as having both weak security and potential rewards, in the shape of gold or jewellery.

They’ll then do an apparently innocent leaflet drop, discreetly attaching a sticker to the letterbox of the homes they are targeting so that when their fellow gang members return the next day, they can easily see which homes to break into. Once inside they look for items of gold or jewellery, using a metal detector to help keep their time in the house to a minimum.

The items they find are put into ‘cash for gold’ padded enveloped and they then use a runner to take the envelope straight to a post box. That way, the thieves have no stolen goods on them or in their homes if they are subsequently searched by the police, leaving little evidence with which to incriminate them.

Look out for odd stickers attached to your letterbox and for any suspicious groups of leaflet distributors in the area. Better still, ensure your security is first class throughout the property so you’re not targeted in the first place.

However, even the best security systems in the world won’t be effective unless its fully operational whenever your home is left unattended, so do stay security conscious and carry out regular checks. And, of course, make sure you have the right insurance policy in place to insure your home and its contents. CGA Protect works with a tailored panel of insurers to help us offer the best possible advice and services. Working with specialist insurers has given us a wealth of experience which means we can match your needs to the policy that’s right for you, to give you peace of mind in the knowledge that if something goes wrong, its not the end of the world.

Our team of specialists are based in the CGA’s offices in rural Wiltshire, not in an anonymous city or an overseas call center, and if you have a query or would like a quote your call wont be answered with menu after annoying menu of key pressing options. Just a human voice that belongs to someone you’ll be able to ask for by name next time you ring

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