A FRUSTRATED beat bobby has appealed to York residents to keep their homes secure after a flurry of sneak thefts on his patch.

Light-fingered opportunists have struck at six homes in the past two weeks in the city suburb, stealing wallets, purses and mobile phones.

PC Paul Beckwith, ward manager, said homes in the Church Lane and Avon Drive areas had been burgled when residents left doors and windows insecure.

He said: "It's an annual phenomenon that when people throw their doors and windows open in the warm weather and head out to lounge in the garden, criminals are left to wander around their homes.

"It's normally small items like handbags, cash, cheque books and phones that are taken, especially from hallways and from vulnerable rooms where they have been left on view.

"In an area like Huntington, where we have a low level of crime, it only takes one person to wander around a few homes and the crime figures can double or even treble."

Peter Vaughan, chairman of Huntington Parish Council and a former North Yorkshire Police Authority member, said many opportunist crimes from homes and vehicles were caused by carelessness.

He said the parish council had discussed the problem of sneak thefts and had resolved to try and raise awareness of the dangers through leaflets and public notices.

He said: "In my view, many of these incidents are wasting police time because some people do not take even the simplest security measures to protect their property."

Carole Patrick, of the Safer York Partnership, said opportunists will look for insecure doors and windows and can strike at any time.

She said: "These people are looking for a quick gain. They rely on you being off-guard and feeling safe. They will snatch anything they can carry and convert to cash easily and leave residents feeling upset and humiliated."

:: Cut down on crime

Lock your door, even when you are in the house, it takes only seconds to create mayhem

Do not leave handbags or wallets on window sills or on surfaces close to doors

If you have a lock and chain use it. If not, consider getting one fitted

Use a UV marker pen to postcode your property and take photographs of items of high value

Updated: 09:18 Saturday, May 22, 2004