Having a good landlord insurance policy is the important message being issued by the police to landlords after a number of thefts both inside and outside rented properties have left their owners out of pocket.
Police in Lincolnshire and Northumbria have issued the warning after a spate of burglaries from empty homes, most of which carried “to let” signs. This type of theft is not uncommon in both counties, but the police think the recent increase in burglaries may be an indication that gangs of thieves are getting better organized. In each of the most recent incidents the thieves have entered an unoccupied house and then stole both the copper pipes and boilers which are then sold on the black market.
At the same time the Devon and Cornwall Police are worried about the escalation of thefts of fuel from remote properties. Many second homes and holiday lets are being targeted by thieves who notice the homes are fuelled by an oil tank outside the property. It is relatively quick and easy to drain an oil tank and the current high price of fuel is making it a lucrative crime.
Until recently the burglaries in Lincolnshire all happened in Gainsborough and Market Rasen, however last month there were also a couple of incidents further a field. The police fear this means they are now targeting a bigger area. While in Northumberland they broke into unoccupied houses with to-let signs in the Bedlinton district and again stole copper piping and the boiler. Police are warning all landlords that criminals will be on the lookout for any properties with a “to let” or “vacancies” board; because they know that the majority of these homes are not occupied. Landlords need to advertise an empty property but it seems they will have to be more careful in how they do it in the future.