“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.
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.”
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.
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.
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