Sneak thieves are preying on Keighley people who leave their front doors unlocked while they are in their back garden. Warm summer evenings are offering burglars a chance to nip into houses for just a few seconds to steal TVs and video recorders.

Insp Mick Hopwood, from Keighley police, this week warned householders to always lock their outside doors, even while in the house. He spoke out after thieves carried out raids on two neighbouring houses in central Keighley.

Insp Hopwood says: "We've noticed an upturn in the burglary figures lately and it's coincided with the hot weather. People are out of their houses a lot more. It only takes thieves a couple of minutes to go straight into the front room and pick up the TV. They get away surprisingly quickly."

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