Criminals are increasingly targeting older residents - including those at retirement villages - with unlocked doors making access easy.
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Albury police have noticed a spike in aggravated burglaries in recent weeks and similar incidents have been recorded in the Wodonga region.
Albury Detective Acting Inspector Chris Wallace recently said crime prevention officers had contacted senior citizens and retirement homes in a bid to deter crooks.
"I guess older people were probably more used to living in a society where they could have their doors open and not locked," he said.
"You get people who have moved in from the country, into Albury and other towns, and they still feel safe to keep things unlocked.
"If criminals are going to these places and trying doors, and finding them open, it's quite easy for them to walk in and take the keys to a car and get the car out of the garage and leave."
Police don't think the offenders are linked.
"It's just an opportunistic crime," the detective said.
While thefts from vehicles had been a major concern, that has decreased.
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"They may not think it's good to steal out of a car at the moment, so maybe they'll go and see if people's homes (are open) and try to get some property that way," Detective Acting Inspector Wallace said.
"There's not specific hotspots, it's happening everywhere.
"It's not good - your house is your castle.
"As an older person, you'd feel more vulnerable than a young person. It's a horrible thing to happen."