Burglary & Vehicle Crime Alert - Kidd Place and Erwood Road, SE7

Burglary & Vehicle Crime Alert - Kidd Place and Erwood Road, SE7

We are urging residents to remain vigilant following an increase in reports of residential burglaries and theft from motor vehicles in the Kidd Place and Erwood Road, SE7 and Antelope Road, SE18 areas.

The suspect for the burglaries is described as a white male, aged about 45 years, slim build unkempt in appearance, with scruffy stubble wearing grey joggers, a light-coloured baseball cap over short dark hair and a dark-coloured t-shirt with a logo on the front. He appears to be acting opportunistically, targeting properties and vehicles where security measures are lacking.

 Protect Your Home

✅ Always lock doors and windows before leaving your property, even if only for a short period.

✅ Close and secure windows in rooms that are not in use, particularly those accessible from the ground floor.

✅ Keep handbags, wallets, mobile phones, tablets and other valuables out of sight from windows.

✅ At night, take handbags, purses, car keys and house keys upstairs with you rather than leaving them near doors or windows.

✅ Consider fitting timer switches to lamps when away from home to create the impression someone is inside.

✅ Keep side gates locked and ensure fences, gates and boundary walls are well maintained.

✅ If you have low front garden walls, consider adding trellis to increase the height. Trellis is difficult for offenders to climb over without making noise or being seen.

✅ Gravel paths or flowerbeds beneath windows can act as a useful deterrent as they create noise when walked upon.

✅ Thorny or prickly plants such as pyracantha, holly or berberis beneath windows and along boundaries can make access more difficult for would-be intruders.

🔑 Keyless Vehicle Owners

Criminals can use electronic devices to capture or amplify the signal from keyless entry fobs left inside homes. This allows them to unlock and sometimes start vehicles without having the physical key.

A Faraday pouch is a specially designed pouch lined with metallic material that blocks radio signals from your key fob. Storing your keys in a Faraday pouch when not in use helps prevent this type of theft.

Prevent Theft From Vehicles

✅ Always lock your vehicle and ensure all windows, sunroofs and doors are fully closed.

✅ Remove all valuables before leaving your vehicle.

✅ Do not leave bags, jackets, sat navs, phones, laptops, tablets, tools, loose change or charging cables on display.

✅ Even an empty bag can attract thieves who may break a window to check its contents.

✅ Check your vehicle is locked by physically trying the handle after locking, rather than relying solely on the key fob.

 Report Suspicious Activity

If you see anyone acting suspiciously, checking door handles, looking into parked vehicles or attempting to gain access to properties, please report it immediately.

📞 Call 999 if a crime is in progress.

📞 Contact 101 or report online for non-emergency information and sightings.

Working together and taking a few simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary or vehicle crime.