Thieves marking target houses with bogus advertising

So-called sticker scams are raising the cost of house insurance, the Telegraph reports.

Under the scam, thieves will mark a house they deem a good target with a sticker bearing a false advert for a service such as locksmiths.

A gang will return the following day to rob the marked houses.

The soaring price of gold is thought to be spurring the activity.

The Telegraph quoted figures from personal lines insurer Esure, which found that compensation payouts for the average burglary increased by 29% over the past three years.

The insurer’s biggest claims topped £100,000.

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