- Letters Issue 107 04-07-08

Letters Issue 107 04-07-08

Written by Readers letters

I would like to bring it to your readers attention that a gang of burglars are operating in the countryside around the Sax/Salinas area.

They send out a member of the gang to identify which properties to burgle. These "scouts" then mark the properties with a code that is meaningless to the people they are targetting. They spray paint a piece of paper and either tape it to a lamppost, tree or place it on or near the house they are going to burgle. This "code" gives the gang various information, from how many people live at the house, whether they have dogs, (WHICH THEY KILL, usually with poison), and also the times the houses are likely to be empty. The gang then come back and burgle the house, killing any dogs that are at the property. If you find any strange graffiti like posters around, please photograph them if possible, then take them down and go to the police. The police have already been informed and are taking this seriously. We are not sure, but we think the gang is driving an old Fiat Ducato/Transit type van with windows in. They appear to be of Eastern European/Romanian appearance and sometimes will stop and ask potential victims directions in an attempt to determine whether they are foreign (they seem to be targeting mainly British).

These sort of burglaries are more common on urbanisations on the coast, but it seems they are widening their areas. Country properties seem to be the main target.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Claire (Sax)