An increase in residential burglaries has led police to issue safety guidance to residents.
Wandsworth police said premises which have several flats served by one communal front door have been targeted.
A Wandsworth police spokeswoman said: “Suspects gain access through the communal door, either by tailgating [following residents into the premises or accessing as residents open the door to leave] or using plastic to slip the lock.
“Closing the door behind them, suspects can then force or smash individual flat doors with relative impunity, given they are off street and out of sight.”
What you can do
• Apply secondary communal door lock (mortice/Chubb lock) when you pass through it.
This makes it significantly harder for the suspects to force the lock using body weight/ pressure or using plastic tools to breach single Yale type locks.
• Challenge strangers who gain or attempt to gain access to the premises in the manner described above.
• Ensure you do not allow access to visitors via the intercom systems – unless you are positive you know who the visitor is.
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