Do we have the dumbest criminals after my week-end ?

[DuncanR]

So my lad rings me Sunday morning (lives i Northampton with 2 other Uni mates) with those words "Dad, we been broken into" ..."they nicked my iPad"(I bought him for Christmas ffs!) "My laptop, ... oh yeah, and both cars" his and his girlfriends. They had taken her handbag containing licence, car and (parents)house keys, and passport, nicked my lads car keys (with my house key on) and as above, then driven off in both cars after walking the streets to find a car to fit the keys. Im thinking I really needs this right now, feckin scum, so we did all the usual, changed his locks immediately, and then of course I’m thinking, as they have his laptop, which may have had my home address on, I best get home too (I was at GF's)... then I remembered the gun cabinet, and I thought ..yes... i really do need to be home tonight !! So off I trots, set traps on both front and rear doors to wake me if they gained entry, duvet and pillow on sofa, ceremonial sword on coffee table ..bring it on ! As I thought in reality, they didn’t turn up, but got locks changed anyway as precaution against a delayed return.
On the Sunday morning a car was seen scoping out my lads GF parents house, and we obtained the number and “obtained” info that the car was indeed registered to undesirables.
Yesterday afternoon, Peterborough Police ring my lad with some good news. The dumbasses (4 of ‘em) who stole his car, and swapped the plates of course were seen by an old dear climbing the security fence to a warehouse, with his car parked up ready for the getaway, she called it in, plod duly arrives, and arrests them all ! ... now at that moment, all they were guilty of was climbing a fence , and a bit of intent obviously, but the really dumb thing they did was leave all my lads stuff, along with 2 Blackberry’s, and another handbag in the feckin car !! so bang to rights one hopes. They returned his iPad and laptop last night, and he collected car today after CID released it. Of the 4 desperados, 2 are brothers, so their parents will be proud; one other has only just been released from a reasonable stretch 2 weeks ago! Their prints are in the house, on the kit, on the car so should be a result... I say should ! .. and I no longer have to fill any claim forms in !
This sort of activity is going to increase, as car security gets better, and hot wiring becomes a lost art, the only real way of nicking cars is to obtain the keys, usually from the house itself, and THAT is going to bring these scum into closer contact with us law abiding people, and THAT will (and of course already does) bring about confrontation and serious injury or death to one or the other.
Maybe a timely reminder to all to just do your own audit on how good your security is on both your own place, and if it applies, that of your kids. When this sort of thing happens it focuses the mind somewhat, and perhaps allows you to see things more clearly with regards to what your perception of good home security really is. All we can really do is present the would be scum bags with a more difficult place to enter than say your neighbours, so they leave you alone, because if they really do want in, they will get in ....but may not get back out quite so easily .... puts Sword away