Surge in cars and homes being broken into as police inspector calls on the New England community to lock their doors

A spike in thefts from unlocked cars and homes has led to calls for locals to improve security habits as criminals target Inverell and Moree.

New England Inspector Phil Malligan said investigations into the increase of break-ins are ongoing with the situation escalating in the past month.

"We've seen it escalate since the start of the year, both in Moree, Inverell and the outlying communities," he said.

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"We've had a spike in residential break-ins which can flow on to cars being stolen.."

Police said some of the offending occurred because opportunistic thieves were taking advantage of unlocked doors.

"People are wandering into houses, taking the car keys so they can go joy-riding. "That poses a safety risk to the members of the community," Inspector Malligan said.

"We want people to take away any opportunity these criminals might have to find a way in."

Last week, a teenager was flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle after he was stabbed by three men carrying machetes and a baseball bat during a home invasion in Inverell.

New England police were told three men armed with machetes and a baseball bat gained entry to the house and assaulted a 19-year-old man, before fleeing with his wallet and a quantity of cash.

"We don't want to see it escalate into injuries for any person," Inspector Malligan said.

"We're investigating all break and enters and at this stage there is no leads to link that one to anything else.

"For us it's about getting the message out, all the measures you put in police will help prevent these things from happening."

Anyone with information on suspicious activity is being urged to contact New England police or their local police station.

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