Award-Winning Letting Agent plans to lock out Yorkshires Burglars

An Award-Winning Yorkshire letting agent is insisting that all his company’s properties are fitted with state-of-the-art locks to tackle the county’s burglars

Luke Gidney, founder of Let-Leeds and Let-York, believes that converting all his tenanted properties to anti-snap and anti-bump locks is the only way to keep the burglars out. Mr Gidney has taken the decision after consultation with West Yorkshire Police crime prevention officers and after studying the burglary rates for the county.

He said: “We always change the locks when a tenancy ends as a basic crime prevention measure. But at Let-Leeds and Let-York we feel that the rental sector has to be pro-active in keeping the burglars out. That involves making sure we go beyond the call of duty to protect properties.

“Last year, the Audit Commission said that some parts of Leeds had burglary rates three times the national average. Parts of York and Leeds that are popular with students are often, unfortunately, just as popular with burglars; who know that students are often at college and away for weeks at a time.

“A burglary costs time and money and causes distress to the tenant and the property owner. By taking this step we believe we are doing all we can to prevent this happening. I’m hoping that other letting agencies will follow. There is a cost involved but we believe it is a worthwhile expense.’’

By using anti-snap and anti-bump locks, Let-Leeds and Let-York will be preventing burglary techniques that account for three out of every five UK burglaries. Burglars use a special “bump key’’ that opens all locks of the same type for lock bumping and everyday tools to apply force when lock snapping.

Both techniques can be used on the euro-cylinder locks, which account for more than 90% of the UK market. But burglars will struggle if a property ahs the anti-snap, anti-bump locks that Let-Leeds is investing in for all its properties.

Mr Gidney added: “We cannot force our landlords to adopt such locks but we believe that once they have discussed the situation with us they will agree that it is the only way forward. As a responsible letting agent, we have a duty of care to our clients’ properties and to our tenants.’’

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