Officers from the Priority Crime Unit are appealing for information and witnesses following a burglary in Farnborough.

Sometime between 11pm on Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18, burglars entered a house in St Johns Road and stole the keys to BMW.

The vehicle, a BMW Z4, was then taken from the driveway.

The victim has told police that earlier on Thursday, she had received a cold call from a man selling car cleaning equipment and officers are investigating whether this was linked to the burglary.

This man is described as:

• Aged in his mid 20s

• Medium build

• Brown or blond hair

• Spoke with a Manchester accent

PC Penny Murray, from the Aldershot Priority Crime Unit, said: “We believe the burglars used an implement through the letterbox to steal the car keys and then take the vehicle.

“We are investigating whether the caller to the door is connected to this incident and would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anyone in the area acting suspiciously or has any information that could help us with our investigation.

“I would also like to remind people to ensure their keys are not easily accessible and away from doors and windows.

“Thieves can be in and out of a house within a minute, and the first the owner is aware they have been burgled is when they wake in the morning to find the car keys missing from the hall table, and the car missing from the driveway.

“Please think about how you would manage in the morning if your car was not there and ensure you keep keys out of sight and if possible, in a lockable cupboard or drawers.

“If you are not expecting a caller to your door, always check their identification and do not let them into your home unless the caller is genuine. If you have any suspicion that the caller is not who they say they are, contact the police immediately.”

Hampshire Constabulary offers the following Safer Homes advice:

• Stop – are you expecting anyone to call on you?  Do you know the person at the door?  Don’t be misled by what appear to be genuine reasons for calling on you.

• Chain – fit a door chain or spy hole so that you can speak to callers or check who they are without opening the door fully.

• Check – A genuine caller will carry identification and will be happy to wait outside while you check it.  Remember to source your own number for the company they are claiming to be from.

• Burglars can make you believe they are genuine callers.  Don't invite them in.  If in doubt, keep them out!

• Keep valuable items out of view – if you have electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds, don’t keep it by the window where passers-by can see it.

• Never leave a key under a doormat or on a string through the letterbox – it’s the first place any burglar will look.

• Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place – burglars will happily use your own garden equipment to break into your home.

• If you’ve taken extra security precautions, let would-be burglars know. If you have an alarm, make sure the box can be clearly seen. If you take part in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, display a sticker in your window, and if you have a dog, put up a warning sign.

• Hide financial documents and keys – if someone does break in you don’t want them to also steal from your bank account or take your car.

• Make sure you secure all your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even if you are ‘just popping out’.

• If you are in the garden or upstairs, make sure your downstairs doors are locked – in the summer burglars can often just open the front door and help themselves.

• Deadlock your doors with the key – don’t just lift up the handle.

• Make use of all door and window locks fitted in your home.

• Consider getting a letter box deflector.

• Keep house keys upstairs or store them near the door out of sight for easy access in an emergency.

• Keep your car keys away from the front door and store them somewhere safe.

• Keep handbags out of sight.