Police have been criticised for sneaking into homes to scare people into locking up safely. Officers have been entering properties and confronting shocked home owners to demonstrate just how easy it is for thieves to take advantage of unlocked doors and windows.
The bizarre crime-fighting initiative was condemned by residents who told of their horror at suddenly coming face to face with a police officer.
Two Police Community Support Officers at Hove, East Sussex, sneaked into the homes in a bid to halt a spate of burglaries.
Home owners claimed they entered through open doors and poked their heads through open windows, confronting alarmed owners in kitchens and living rooms.
If the home owner was out, the PCSOs closed the windows and doors and left a note and a crime prevention pack telling them to make sure their property was secure before leaving.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This is ridiculous. The police should be out catching criminals, not breaking into homes. If they want to distribute advice about home security, then that’s fine. But breaking in is invasive, unnecessary and terrifying for victims. People have enough fear of burglars without the police getting in on the act, too.” Hove has been hit by a wave of burglaries in the past fortnight as people left windows and doors open during the recent heatwave.
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