Burglars made off with up to €45,000 in three Sliema break-ins reported in the past week as the spate of burglaries in the area continues, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

Apart from the three burglaries, officers are also investigating an attempted break-in where would-be thieves failed to gain access, according to police sources.

The modus operandi of the burglaries is similar to that reported in recent weeks, the sources said, with bump keys, which act as master keys, used to gain entry to people’s homes.

Whereas the thefts in recent weeks had focused on the streets around Tigné, the burglars now appear to have shifted their attention to side streets off Tower Road.

Burglars, much like pickpockets, often identify lucrative grounds but shift to different areas to avoid detection, the sources added.

Most of the targets formed part of blocks of apartments that were not particularly modern.

Sources said thieves were under the impression that older apartments were less likely to have security systems installed and could potentially house elderly people who were more likely to have jewellery and cash at home.

Last week The Sunday Times of Malta had reported that some 15 residences in Sliema had been burgled since the beginning of August.

Residents, police meet

Homes along Cathedral Street, Graham Street, Tigné, Tower Road and Hughes Hallet Street, were targeted this month.

Apart from cash, the thieves went for gold, jewellery and gadgets.

Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop said he was receiving regular complaints about safety and urged all residents to report any irregularities to the police. In a bid to increase awareness, the local council will tomorrow be holding a meeting between residents and officers from the Sliema police station at the Imperial Hotel at 6.30pm.

The meeting is intended to inform residents, particularly the elderly and those who live alone, on the basic measures to be taken to deter thieves.

Police sources told this newspaper that homeowners should try to avoid leaving their residence unattended in the evenings, especially between 5pm and 11pm. They also encouraged people to consider installing CCTV or alarm systems to deter would-be thieves.

Moreover, police have also suggested setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme, enabling residents to report suspicious movements.

Alan Pitre, who owns a hardware store, said he was fast selling out of tamper-proof locks. “We’ve been selling a lot of these locks, about four or five every day. I suppose people value feeling safe,” Mr Pitre said.

The locks are advertised as a deterrent for criminals using bump key and cost about 25 per cent more than other less secure mechanisms.

A similar spate of incidents was reported in Sliema and St Julian’s last summer, with a pattern that involved professional thieves who broke into homes through the front door.

Some of the homes even had complex lock systems, which proved no match for what police had believed were foreign gangs.