Met issues warning about gold theft ahead of Diwali

After more than £50 million worth of gold and jewellery was stolen in London last year, the Met is warning people to be vigilant against the theft of gold during Diwali.

The five-day festival begins on Thursday, October 19.

Last year there were 3,463 gold or jewellery thefts from Asian families in London.

Met intelligence shows criminals are increasingly looking to steal gold from families, with Asian, Jewish and Maltese communities the worst affected.

Police urge people to make sure their valuables are photographed and marked using traceable liquid. They also recommend making sure safes are secured to a wall or the floor and are not kept in bedrooms or bathrooms as this is the first place thieves look.

Detective Superintendent Corrigan said: “Gold will continue to be highly desired by criminals due to the speed and anonymity with which it can be exchanged for large sums of cash.”