BURGLARY victims who have had their security systems disarmed during a break-in have been urged to ask for their electricity meter boxes to be moved inside their homes.

Crooks operating in East Lancashire have begun breaking into meter boxes situated on the outside of homes and cutting off power.

The move ensures they can operate in darkness without being caught by outside security lights. They can also disable some burglar alarms.

Most homes with alarms will still be protected, however, by back-up batteries which maintain the power supply.

Many newly-designed homes have meter boxes on the outside of buildings to make it easier for Norweb staff to take readings. But police have said houses are more secure when they are inside.

And Norweb has now pledged that they will consider moving the boxes if people can convince them there is a need to take action.

Sgt Alan Holt, Blackburn Police's crime prevention officer, said: "If a person has a security light, mains fitted and a burglar alarm system then it would be better if the electricity box was on the inside of the house rather than the outside.

"Although alarms have battery back-up, they only have a certain life and people rarely check them."

A spokesman for Norweb said: "We do treat all cases on their individual merits and if people can prove a definite need we will move their boxes inside."

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