Raider uses cat flap in break-in

A burglar stole property worth more than a thousand pounds from a house in Surrey after reaching through the cat flap for the door key.

Police said the offender broke the flap in order to reach the key which had been left in the door of the house in Cranleigh on Monday night.

The burglar searched the house in Guildford Road and took a television and jewellery.

Officers said the occupants of the house had gone out at the time.

Security measures

The watch, bracelet, necklace and television that were taken between 2030 and 2130 BST were valued at £1,189.

Crime reduction advisor John Robini advised cat owners to use lockable cat flaps.

He also suggested people think carefully about where they fit cat flaps and have them leading to an outbuilding, a shed, a garage, or a room that can be locked from the rest of the house.

People should not leave keys in locks or valuable items near cat flaps, letterboxes or open windows, and use house alarms if they have them, he added.