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Burglars targeting car keys in Sutton Coldfield have carried out a series of raids in the past week, with the crimewave showing no signs of abating.

Three cars were taken off the same drive in Whitehouse Common, a car was taken by determined thieves in a patio break-in despite anti-theft locks, while a high-end motor was stolen from a burglary plagued street in Wylde Green.

Worryingly guns, jewellery and a car were taken after a break-in in Four Oaks.

A Range Rover was taken from outside a home in Kempson Avenue last Tuesday (February 12) shortly before 2am.

A home in the same road was targeted in December where car thieves smashed a patio window and threated three women, with a 13-week-old baby – demanding keys to a BMW – before fleeing the house. Following the latest incident police said: ‘enquiries were ongoing’.

(Image: Google)

A Mercedes A-Class, BMW 1 Series, and a Kia Sportage were stolen from the same home in Trickley Drive on Saturday (February 16) between 8pm and 11.30pm. The victims described the incident as an ‘organised and planned theft’.

Police confirmed they were called to reports of a burglary in Trickley Drive on Saturday. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Burglars managed to gain access to the home and took the keys to three cars along with jewellery. They then took the vehicles off the drive.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote crime reference number 20BE/40565M/19.”

While in Coleshill Road, a Mini Cooper S was taken from a drive on Saturday (February 16) night at around 10.30pm – despite the home having anti-snap locks fitted on their patio door.

Mini owner Adam White told BirminghamLive: “It was my work car that was taken. They tried to get in to the kitchen first. They attempted to lever the window open. And then attempted to smash the window. They broke one pane of the double glazing but not the inside and gave up on that.

“They tried to break the locks on the patio doors but they were anti-snap ones. So they have then picked up our four-year-old daughter’s Smilestone and smashed a man-size hole in the window of the door.

“The real saving grace was for once all three of us were out. Friends rang to ask if I had just driven off at a rate of knots. Neighbours the other side said they had potentially seen someone in a grey hoody.



“When I realised my car had been taken, we came straight home. Our neighbours were all outside.

“Forensics came relatively quickly. The good news is our car was found in Chelmsley Wood and has been recovered. It still had a laptop in, my daughter’s bike which we were going to replace and a hard drive with photos of my daughter since she was born. Nothing appeared to have been taken when we checked the car at the police compound in Stechford.

“We have made a point of not telling our daughter. Home should be somewhere safe, for children especially. I have always felt safe around here but at the moment I don’t feel safe.”

Police confirmed they are investigating reports of a burglary in Coleshill Road between 5.30pm and 10.30pm on Saturday night (February 16). A spokeswoman said: “Entry was forced via the back patio doors and the keys of a Mini were taken along with the car.



“The car was found a day later by police and has been recovered for forensics.



“Anyone with information can contact us, quoting crime reference 20BE/42418H/19 via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

And as well as a Skoda Kodiaq and jewellery, six rifles and shotguns were taken from a ‘secure cabinet’ at a home in Vaughan Close in Four Oaks between 9pm on Friday (February 15) and 2pm on Saturday (February 16).

BirminghamLive is also aware that a BMW 320D has been reported as stolen in a car key burglary in Hollyfield Road on Monday (February 18), sometime between midnight and 5am.

As well as the six cars stolen detailed above, there have also been attempted car thefts from homes in Eachelhurst Road, Walmley between 11.30pm on February 12 and 2.10am on February 13 and in Penns Lane, Wylde Green at around 4.45am on February 11.

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PCSO Pat Maher from the New Hall neighbourhood team said: “We have had two burglaries on our ward this week, and we are appealing for witnesses or any information.

“In both cases again, an attempt has been made to snap the lock on the property door to gain entry. Because it is such a common method of entry, it is important that you consider looking into anti-snap locks.

“Alarms in these cases have helped to prevent items or car keys from being stolen.

“Burglary patrols are still being conducted in Sutton Coldfield to combat the rate of burglaries, although it has dropped within the past few months.

“If you see anything suspicious and think we need to know please contact us via 101, or alternatively via LiveChat on the WMPolice Website. Call 999 in an emergency.

“If you would like any advice, or want any more information, please reply to this message or contact suttonnewhall@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.”