Canberrans urged to lock up as thieves target unlocked houses, cars

Police are urging Canberrans to lock up after thieves broke into a house and five cars in Fadden in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police said the occupants of a house in Appel Crescent were sleeping inside when the thieves struck. The front door and gate had both been left unlocked.

Thieves targeted four cars on the same street that morning, along with a car in Maughan Crescent. Police said most of the cars had been left unlocked.

“While theft from motor vehicles is often an opportunistic crime, these thefts suggest offenders are actively looking for easy targets,” Station Sergeant Greg O’Ryan said.

“Whoever committed these crimes was quite brazen in entering a home while people were sleeping inside, and in stealing from vehicles in a carport. This underlines the importance of locking vehicles and premises overnight.”

Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the Fadden area in the early hours of Monday morning, or who has information that can help police, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.

Tips about household security can be found on the ACT Policing website.