Mark ：What else did she say?
Kate ：She told me that sometimes you do get bikes back – the thieves use them and then abandon them, apparently, and then people find them and report them. Mark ：So you might get it back.
Kate ：I hope so, Mark, I really do. It’s just too much you know? But um what else? She told me to go to this sale they have of abandoned bikes. She thinks I might find it there. But it’s only every two months, I can’t wait till then! Honestly, Mark, I’m really furious!
Mark ：You can always buy a cheap bike on eBay.
Kate ：Hello Speaking You found it! Where was it? Is it ? Oh, that’s fantastic news!
There was a lamp and a basket on it … Right … OK, thank you, I’ll be in tomorrow morning to pick it up. Unbelievable! This guy found it!
Mark ：Brilliant! Was that the police?
Kate ：Yes. What they said was, someone dumped it outside this guy’s backyard. Mark ：That’s so strange!
Kate ：The lamp’s been stolen and the basket.
Mark ：Forget about it! You’re lucky to get it back!
Outside view
Part1
Presenter
Dodgy deals aren’t the only problems associated with doorstep sellers. Your doorstep presents these unannouncedvisitors with a real opportunity to undertake distraction burglary where they often pose as bogus officials to gain access to your home.
I’m joined now by Ian Holt, from Thames Valley Police. Ian, just outline for me what does distraction burglary actually entail?
Ian
Holt
Well basically what happens is, somebody uses a story to get inside somebody’s house and then they steal items, usually cash or small items of jewellery.
Presenter
And what are the different techniques that are commonly used?
Ian
Holt
Well basically the er … the people that commit this crime move from area to area, er … they will look at an area, they will try and pick a particular target and they can find that by looking at property, it may beer, an uncut garden, it may be repairs that need doing to the property. Something that indicates that there’s, there’s a vulnerable person in there. It … usually, it’s an elderly person that lives there. Is this quite a common problem now? It is becoming more common. To get it in perspective, of the 14,000 burglaries that were in Thames Valley last year, we had
reported 800 crimes of distraction burglary.