A THIEF stole a car from a Tipplers Street house early on Monday, after first trying to access two other houses.
Residents of one house woke on Monday morning to find their silver Toyota Landcruiser, with registration 423KOW, stolen from the driveway.
Police said the car keys had been stolen from a kitchen counter after the thief got in through an unlocked back door.
Neighbours later found that someone had tried to gain access to two other houses as there was damage to a fly screen and a garage door.
On Monday, a Capalaba house was also broken into and electronic devices stolen.
Police said a fly screen was removed from the kitchen window between 7.45am and 3.30pm to gain entry to the Tremont Street property.
Police this week issued a reminder to people to ensure their homes are secure at night after a recent spate of burglaries in the Wynnum area.
Bayside Patrol Group Crime Prevention Coordinator, Sergeant Chris Hebblethwaite said the burglaries had occurred because residents had left their homes wide open.
The offences had occurred at night, while occupants were home.
“Offenders are looking for the houses which are easy to get into,” he said.
“This means they are trying all homes in a street until they find that one house that has open or unlocked doors and windows.”
Sergeant Hebblethwaite advised residents to:
- Check doors and windows before going to bed and secure the front door, if in the backyard.
- Remove valuables, keys, wallets and phones from view.
- Lock internal doors from the garage into the house.
- Install key operated locks, security grills on windows and deadlocks on doors.
- Put padlocks on side gates to the backyard.
- Install finger guards on security doors that are not always key-locked.
- Install alarms and remember to set them.
- Remove keys from security locks on windows and doors.
- Remove external objects that could be used as ladders to gain access to high windows and verandas.
- Get to know your neighbours.
“By taking these simple steps, you dramatically reduce your chance of becoming a victim,” Sergeant Hebblethwaite said.