The Sun claims Madeleine McCann was kidnapped during a botched burglary.

[pegasus]

(snip).....still doesn't explain why the child went missing.

True it doesn't explain the disappearance at all yet Misty.
But it's a productive method to investigate tiny step by tiny step, without rushing ahead.
If done correctly it should, second by second, lead to the solution.

[pegasus]

I think that all that the child would have seen would have been the closed curtain which would have cut off the view of the intruder who would have had the shutter raised in seconds

Good point Brietta you are right
It's interesting that the curtains not only cover the window, but also cover the shutter operating strap.
So the child would not see the arm reaching in and operating the strap.
However the child might see the associated movement of the curtain?
Would there be enough light to see that?
(Bedroom door only slightly ajar, and only one small tablelamp on at opposite corner of lounge)

[pegasus]

What 3 pieces of equipment would a burglar use, when entering a property via an unlocked window in the dark?

ETA, IMO a left glove, a right glove, and a torch.
After opening the window and shutter he would use the torch to look into the room before climbing in.

[Brietta]

What 3 pieces of equipment would a burglar use, when entering a property via an unlocked window in the dark?

A torch is a give away, Pegasus.  So one would not have been used.

Despite his/her eyes being attuned to the dark outside it would take a few seconds to adjust to conditions inside the room if entry had been via the window (which I don't think it was). I think s/he would have been in the room before realising the cots and the beds were occupied.

[pegasus]

A torch is a give away, Pegasus.  So one would not have been used.

Despite his/her eyes being attuned to the dark outside it would take a few seconds to adjust to conditions inside the room if entry had been via the window (which I don't think it was). I think s/he would have been in the room before realising the cots and the beds were occupied.

It's an interesting detail. Hypothetically if a criminal did open the shutter and window from outside, and then pulled a curtain aside, do you think he would be able to see, from outside, anything inside the room?

[G-Unit]

If no-one criminal opened the wooden door then no-one would have needed to say the keys to Block 5 went missing shortly before May 3rd. Someone must have known that a key was used to make such an allegation.

So you think that the allegation was made because the person saying it knew that a key was used to enter the apartment? If keys were lost it's a bit of a leap to say the person reporting it had knowledge of a crime being committed in 2007 but only mentioned it 7 years later to a UK newspaper.

Perhaps you can tell us who made the allegation? As far as I can discover the Sunday Express were 'investigating' in Portugal and 'tracked down' a former maintenance worker (now retired). Why? They don't say. Who? They don't say.

Still, what does that matter, he had exciting news apparently, which could change the direction of the international investigation. An employee had lost the keys to Block 5! He named the employee and the Sunday Express 'tracked' him down also! Investigative journalism at last? Not really, I don't think he was hiding or anything like that, just getting on with life as he had done for the previous 7 years. He denied losing any keys.

Following these exciting revelations OG, (do they get leads from the newspapers?) through the PJ, interviewed him, the Head of Maintenance and the Mark Warner managers. Nothing more has been reported.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/458798/Apartment-key-theft-cover-up-by-resort-staff-in-Madeleine-McCann-case

[Alice Purjorick]

Toy soldiers are lead which is soft and ductile. 

I suggested a tin alloy or similar metal of decent tensile strength.  Enough for a use once-only key.

It's the torsional stresses that will cause a key to fail not tensile.
Remember your Ts Js Gs rs ls and thetas ?

[Alice Purjorick]

  ORLY....its not as bad as I thought......only 22 hrs 47 mins with no traffic....and  BTW....some of us are working with cast metals everyday...if you get my drift although their use is being superceded by cad cam milling due to inaccuracies of the casting process....shouldnt be  a problem with a key though...   cobalt chrome is readily available as are the means to cast it....having said that  a run out to Timpsons may be preferable
[/quote

I would imagine most people have something to do with cast metals every day.
It's big step from there to knowing anything about the processes that produce the lump of cast metal.
oink oink
Ten to one the mods think that is an insult and not subtle comment 

[Mr Gray]

  ORLY....its not as bad as I thought......only 22 hrs 47 mins with no traffic....and  BTW....some of us are working with cast metals everyday...if you get my drift although their use is being superceded by cad cam milling due to inaccuracies of the casting process....shouldnt be  a problem with a key though...   cobalt chrome is readily available as are the means to cast it....having said that  a run out to Timpsons may be preferable
[/quote

I would imagine most people have something to do with cast metals every day.
It's big step from there to knowing anything about the processes that produce the lump of cast metal.
oink oink
Ten to one the mods think that is an insult and not subtle comment 

I'm not offended in the slightest....it's quite boring but I have cast several metals ...gold...gold alloys and non precious...others do it for me now

[Alice Purjorick]

I'm not offended in the slightest....it's quite boring but I have cast several metals ...gold...gold alloys and non precious...others do it for me now

Of course you have and of course they do.

[stephen25000]

It's the torsional stresses that will cause a key to fail not tensile.
Remember your Ts Js Gs rs ls and thetas ?

The use of Lead/Tin alloys would be ineffective.

They would break in the lock.

Very low tensile strength.

[Mr Gray]

The use of Lead/Tin alloys would be ineffective.

They would break in the lock.

Very low tensile strength.

It's the torsional stresses that will cause a key to fail not tensile.
Remember your Ts Js Gs rs ls and thetas ?

[Mr Gray]

Of course you have and of course they do.

so I've claimed to have worked as an anaethetist....on duty in casualty and to have cast metals...there's actually a common denominator to all three

[Alice Purjorick]

so I've claimed to have worked as an anaethetist....on duty in casualty and to have cast metals...there's actually a common denominator to all three

There is a common denominator between technocratic societies and cast metals.
Most homes will have cast metals in them somewhere.
Wax on wax off.

[Mr Gray]

There is a common denominator between technocratic societies and cast metals.
Most homes will have cast metals in them somewhere.
Wax on wax off.

I'm surprised you can't work it out