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What does distraction burglary mean?

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What does distraction burglary mean?

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By and large, most people that call on you at home will be honest and genuine in their purpose and needs, but on odd occasions somebody will turn up unannounced with the intention of tricking their way into your house. These individuals are branded ‘distraction burglars’ or ‘bogus callers’. Any crime where a lie, trick or distraction is used on a resident to try and gain access to their home in order to carry out a robbery is classed as ‘distraction burglary’ or ‘artifice burglary’. Victims usually find that they have had money or possessions stolen from inside their home, and in many instances only realise they have been duped at some point after the crime has been committed. The most distasteful aspect to distraction burglary is that its biggest target is the elderly, and in particular those women between the ages of 75 and 80 who live on their own. Its victims are therefore not only robbed of their money and possessions but also often left psychologically scarred by the experience.

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Two people come to your home posing as meter readers, inspectors or something like that. One of them keeps you talking (hence distraction) while the other pretends to test or check something. While you are distracted the second person looks for anything worth stealing. Remember that genuine inspectors will have some form of identification, with photograph and telephone number. They will not mind if you shut the door in his face while you check that they are genuine. If you think about it you generally know when the meter reading is due. Except in a real emergency the local authority will have written to say that they are coming. If you don’t have a chain on the door have one fitted and always use it You local police force will advise you on security and may fit a door chain for nothing. Join your Neighbourhood Watch if you have one. The police will help there too.

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