The story I reported about locksmiths stickers being used by potential burglars has taken some twists and turns in the last few days.

The story was originally reported on the BBC website about a burglary in Wandsworth, but doubt has now been cast on whether this is just some form of advertising as the practice is clearly more widespread, including in Waltham Forest.

Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow has been tweeting about it and the local press have taken up the story but it seems the police are now no longer sure that these stickers are all associated with burglary gangs.

Here are some related articles so you can form your own view:

• Evening Standard
• Waltham Forest Guardian

Whether these stickers are part of crime or just a marketing technique the advice would surely be the same. If they appear on your letterbox, take them off. And if they are being put there by locksmiths the advice to them must surely be: you need to rethink your marketing, because even if this technique used to work, it’s unlikely to now!