Video: Havering Police give insight to the criminal mindset
Still from police crime prevention video - entry - Credit: Archant
“If it’s not nailed down or anyone’s looking after it, I’ll take it” says “notorious burglar and thief” Ricky Jones in a video created by Havering Police to highlight crime prevention advice.
Still from police crime prevention video - cashpoint - Credit: Archant
Ricky is played by an actor and his offences are a work of fiction but the short film shot around Havering is a startling insight into the procedures of crime.
As the film opens Ricky is in a van driving around Havering’s streets, searching for targets.
He says: “I have a little drive around, look at houses I might be interested in.
“If I knock on the door and there’s no answer I see if I can get round the back – if I can get round the back and there’s no one in, if it’s all quiet, then I will break in.”
Still from police crime prevention video - wire - Credit: Archant
Later in the film the serial thief finds an unlocked car and swiftly pockets a sat-nav to “sell down the boozer later”.
He speaks of following wealthy-looking people home from a train station and distracting cash point users before snatching their withdrawal.
Most Read
- 1 Proposal to bulldoze Romford shops to make way for 15 homes
- 2 'A social club for the community': 90-year-old Hornchurch snooker hall to close after 'losing battle' over lease
- 3 Bid to turn Harold Wood motor shop into three-bedroom home refused by council
- 4 Plans for new Gidea Park fries and chicken takeaway rejected
- 5 Man on trial for Brentwood double murder was in 'flight mode', court hears
- 6 Romford pair to 'bring a little bit of raving' to 'more mature' Hornchurch community
- 7 MP Julia Lopez announces resignation as minister and calls for PM to 'step aside'
- 8 Man arrested after allegedly begging while armed with hammer
- 9 'I hadn’t done anything wrong’: Romford man wins five-month fight over parking fine
- 10 Watch: Brawl erupts on Heath Park street outside pub
In one scene he pushes a piece of wire through a letter box and hooks a set of keys on the other side. In another he boasts “If they don’t lock the front UPVC door it’s easy. I’m in within 30 seconds” before grabbing a screwdriver and proving just that.
The video aims to highlight the simple crime prevention measures that could dissuade a thief.
Sgt Ken McNish, of Havering Police, said: “We’ve made it to make people aware that quite overtly people are committing burglaries in broad daylight and using different tactics.
“We need people to take responsibility for securing their own properties – even locking the front door properly or making it look like someone is in the house.”
Sgt McNish hopes the attention grabbing video will resinate with the borough’s residents so they pass on the crime busting information – particularly as many head away on holiday this Easter weekend.
He advised residents to use timer switches, set radios to come on or use other devices to make it look like someone is at home.
