Bump-key thieves, criminal gangs target Sliema homes

Residences in Sliema have once again fallen prey to dreaded “bump-key” thieves and organised criminal gangs, with police identifying a common pattern in several reported burglaries.

In its report, the Sunday Times of Malta said that although there was no cause for alarm, people should be on the lookout for anything unusual happening in the street.

A recent spate of burglaries in Sliema mirror the same period last year. In 2013, MaltaToday had reported that a professional gang believed to owe its origin to foreign culture, was using sophisticated tools to break into apartments in Sliema. One of these tools is the maligned “bump-key” – an unsophisticated device used to get into individual apartment units without needing to cause any damage and leave any traces behind.

Apartments tend to be more vulnerable, especially those without alarm systems or closed circuit camera surveillance. The recent spate of thefts has instilled fear among the Sliema community with police urging residents to be wary of any suspicious movements, and to consider setting up a neighbourhood watch to monitor the area more frequently.

Police sources said that more than 15 Sliema residences have been burgled since August, with many thefts occurring in Cathedral Street, Graham Street, Tower Road, Tigné and Hughes Hallet Street.

Apartment blocks in these streets are no stranger to the use of bump key and have in the fast fallen victim to professional criminal gangs and robbers. In November 2014, an 88-year-old was reportedly burgled by a gang using bump-keys.

The majority of the robbers make off with cash, jewellery, and other valuable items such as mobile phones, TVs, laptops, and tablets.

Official statistics show that in 2012, more than 75% of the reported crimes related to theft, while similarly, in 2013, 734 thefts, or 69% of all crimes, were reported in Sliema.

Moreover, Sliema accounted for 190 cases of pickpocketing, with neighbouring St Julian’s and Paceville accounting for nearly 43% of all pickpocketing cases during April and June 2015.