Letter: Invitation to burgle

Sir: You report on "the simple way to stop burglary" (8 December). However, local government has given the burglar the ability to target thousands of homes that people have to leave empty when out at work.

On the day refuse is collected, householders have to place a large wheeled bin on the pavement, and retrieve it after collection. We have to leave a large "please burgle me" sign on the pavement outside our homes until we return at the end of the working day.

The Government should make local authorities revert to the old system of the refuse collector bringing the bin out and returning it as part of the service.

I BROOK

Pontefract, West Yorkshire