I live on Stondon Park and had my flat broken into just over a week ago . It's on the first floor, and the burglars entered in broad daylight through a poorly secured sash window, having apparently scaled three fences and a drainpipe. The police have said that it's likely that thieves are sitting in cars watching people leave their houses before they break in, which is a chilling thought.

One of my neighbours told me tonight that there had apparently been two other burglaries nearby in the past few weeks, one on Tatnell Road, the other at the Stillness Road end of Stondon Park. Does anyone know anything more about this? I gather the police have done some house to house enquiries. Let's hope this is the end of it, but in future I will be much more suspicious of people sitting in cars. It might be wise to take their registration numbers if they stay longer than 5 minutes.

It can't be said enough times, and you learn the hard way: make sure your windows are secure whatever floor you live on, and please, please report any suspicious behaviour. It may save you or one of your neighbours having their property stolen.