Organised burglary gangs have recruited takeaway drivers to take photos and videos of luxury homes to getaway with break-ins, says top security expert.
deliveroo criminals (Image: Getty)
Takeaway drivers have been used by organised burglary gangs to scout the layout and security of luxury properties when delivering food, it has been warned.
Drivers from Deliveroo, Uber Eats and other courier firms have taken photos and videos when delivering to large mansions in leafy suburbs, according to security experts.
In doing so they have reduced the risk of burglars being spotted before they strike, while recording information such as door and window entry points, getaway routes, security systems and what vehicles are available on driveways.
The crime-pattern has been highlighted by former Met Police Detective Chief Inspector Dave McKelvey, who now runs Britain’s biggest private security firm, TM Eye.
He said he was aware of Romanian and Albanian gangs based in Britain working with South American criminals on the enterprise.
He said: “We’re so used to seeing drivers going around on mopeds and bikes that they’re everywhere.
“Organised criminals have exploited that to their advantage. Those on bikes, often food delivery drivers from the big companies, are being used to identity and target properties.
“They have such a great excuse while delivering food. They are very unsuspecting. They drive around at all hours and nobody suspects a thing.
“But there are cases when they are acting on behalf of South American burglary gangs. They can glean so much information from a property in a very short space of time, simply from doing their job.”
A food delivery courier working for Deliveroo (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Sources said the problem had impacted properties worth millions of pounds in north east London, Essex, Hertfordshire and Cheshire.
Mr McKelvey said there had been a rise in cases where the victims simply had no idea how the burglars had been able to get access so easily.
He added: “Burglary gangs are no longer junkies. They’re highly organised and sophisticated criminals.
“They are almost always foreign gangs, often South American. They are masked and have three or four members. They know exactly where they’re going.
“I’m aware of plenty of cases where the owner is simply dumbfounded as to how they got in and out so quickly. Cleaners have often been suspected.
“But delivery drivers and now a common theme. You could be opening your front door or front gate to a burglary gang.”
A Just Eat delivery rider (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The security expert said they will often take photos and videos of the property, the vehicles outside, routes inside and out and details of windows and doors.
He said: “They can provide the burglars with an awful lot of useful information.”
This means the actual gang only needs to visit their targets once, reducing the risk of being caught.
Other sources said often the gangs will flee on fake number plates. One said: “This is a very thought-out and prepared criminal operation.”
As well as targeting luxury properties these burglary gangs have also raided jewellery shops.
A spokesperson for Uber said all its couriers must complete background checks and if found to be in breach of guidelines or acting unlawfully then it will take action, including permanently removing access from the app.
Deliveroo was approached for comment.