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Lockdown lifting could see rise in distraction burglaries in Kent including potential use of drones

The lifting of lockdown measures could see an increase in distraction burglaries and thefts in Kent involving the potential use of drones, police have warned.

Officers are warning people to be extra vigilant if they receive an unexpected caller to their home as the lockdown eases.

Lockdown lifting could see a rise in new types of rogue traders targeting the elderly. Stock picture
Lockdown lifting could see a rise in new types of rogue traders targeting the elderly. Stock picture

A distraction burglary describes where a criminal calls at your home posing to be an official they’re not - normally a health or council worker. They might then create a story to gain access to your home and steal possessions or information.

It’s predicted that the number of these bogus crimes are likely to be on the rise as new opportunities created by the pandemic to deceive elderly and vulnerable people emerge.

Robert Slade, serious crime prevent officer for Kent and Essex Police, told Dartford council's crime and disorder committee these types of crimes were on the rise.

"There has been some of this happening in Kent, not huge amounts, but still a good increase," he said.

"It could well be that as we go further into the testing and potentially identifying ways of going into people's homes to do testing there is going to be a rise in distraction burglaries where people purport to be healthcare professionals or indeed police."

Cllr Peter Harman. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Cllr Peter Harman. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent County councillor for Greenhithe, Peter Harman, also raised the issue of drone sightings potentially linked to recent garden furniture thefts in Swanscombe and Greenhithe.

It comes after furious residents took to social media last month to vent their frustration, prompting police to issue a statement ruling out a connection between the two.

Officers launched an investigation and said they spoke to the pilot involved who they established was not connected with the thefts and was advised on proper "drone etiquette".

However, various neighbours have reported further sightings of suspicious aircraft hovering over their gardens.

Cllr Harman told the committee: "There are people seeing drones in the daytime, sort of flying around the district, and thefts overnights.

"It can be a range of things from garden furniture to small pools and things."

Drones sightings have risen sharply in the last few months in some parts of Kent with some residents believing they are link to thefts. Stock picture
Drones sightings have risen sharply in the last few months in some parts of Kent with some residents believing they are link to thefts. Stock picture

He went on to ask former police inspector Mr Slade whether this had been witnessed elsewhere and queried if there was a potential link.

To which he replied: "I have heard of drones being used for a number of different acts of criminality, primarily smuggling drugs into prisons and even bringing down a whole airport.

"But that is the first time I have heard it being utilised potentially in residential burglary situations. It's a very interesting one."

Mr Slade said such reports needed to be fed to local policing teams but added he would like to do some more research into it.

"That sounds like a really interesting and logical step, frankly, as a use of technology to instead of looking over a fence. Why not fly a drone up, see whether the place is occupied and do a burglary?

"Whether it's a myth or not it's something worth looking into and is something I'm going to take away, certainly."

Shortly after, he referred to a Google search which informed him of this practice reportedly being used in Cambridge and Suffolk.

"It does appear to be a sign of a growing trend," he said, adding it could be linked into serious organised crime if the items being targeted are things such as high value vehicles.

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