Cat flap trick by key thieves
Burglars have been stealing cars in Shropshire - after reaching through cat flaps to grab the keys.
And police in Market Drayton are linking the thefts to a raid by a masked gang on a convenience store in the town yesterday morning. Detectives trying to trace raiders who smashed their way into the One Stop shop, in Shrewsbury Road, at 2am yesterday, believe it is connected to house burglaries in Wem, Market Drayton and Welshampton.
During each burglary the offenders stole car keys and then snatched vehicles and other items from different addresses.
Detective Constable Pete Wormley, of Market Drayton CID, said during some of the incidents offenders gained access after keys were left near doors, in locks or by reaching through a cat flap.
He said: "In one incident, between 4.20am and 6.20am on Sunday, in Somerset Way, Wem, the offenders gained entry to a locked and secure home by reaching the keys through the cat flap.
"They then entered and stole a number of items and the keys to two vehicles, a red Peugeot 106, registration N142 NGD and a white Vauxhall Astra, registration DF54 AMV.
"In another incident in the same street, between 10.30pm on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday, the house and car keys were left in the back door.
"The offenders reached through the cat flap to get the keys and gained entry."
Police are also investigating an attempted break-in at a house in Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, in the early hours of Sunday and the theft of a black Porsche Boxster, registration Y144 RBD, from a house in Darwin Close between 8pm on Saturday and 10.30am on Sunday after the offenders broke in and stole the keys.
Detective Constable Wormley said: "We believe all of these offences are linked." He said there were also a number of incidents where a group of men had been seen acting suspiciously in areas such as Welshampton, near Ellesmere, which may also be linked.
In the One Stop raid, three thieves believed to be wearing balaclavas or hoods smashed their way into the convenience store. Anyone with information about any incident is asked to call police on 08457 444888.
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