CONCERNS over residents in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area suffering from sneak-in raids and break-ins with spare car keys being stolen were aired at last night's meeting of Central Fife Crime Prevention Panel.

The Panel heard that while it had been something that had been going on in the Edinburgh area for some time, the situation had now been happening in the likes of Dalgety Bay and St Andrews.

Tom Kinnaird told panel members that the theft of spare car keys saw vehicles taken perhaps a day or two later with owners waking up to find their car gone.

Community Policeman for Kelty and Benarty, PC Gary Chrystal said that it was something which could happen in the area, and making residents aware of the dangers of sneak-in type thefts was important.

Panel chairman Colin Bird commented: "This sort of theft is something which can hit an unsuspecting family and people should do their utmost to ensure that the likes of spare car keys are kept in a very safe place to make things difficult for these opportunist thieves."