Homes in Cheltenham have been targeted for several burglaries over the past week. Children’s clothing, cash, jewellery and expensive push bikes have all been snatched. Residents have come home to find a hammer on the other side of a broken back door, a rock on a bedroom floor by a smashed window, and bolt cutters used to remove locks from sheds.
The streets targeted have been:
- Fairford Road – burglars left a mess after stealing a gold bracelet.
- Arle Road – offenders got away with nothing after being disturbed by the resident.
- Milton Road – the house alarm alerted neighbours to the break in, allowing them to contact the home owner.
- Montpellier Parade – although no access was gained to the property, windows had been broken at the rear.
- Halland Road – four high-value bikes were stolen from a locked shed.
- Thompson Drive – a pricey cordless drill was taken from outdoor storage, as well as an expensive push bike.
- Manor Court – resident came home to an unknown male trying to enter the property, no access was gained and the offender left when disturbed.
- Tewkesbury Road – several bags of children’s clothing were stolen from a communal shed.
- Byron Road – thiefs broke into the property through a conservatory window, stealing money, jewellery and a number of expensive items.
How can I stay safe?
Burglary prevention advice from the Gloucestershire Constabulary states that you can get ’49 times more protection by using ‘WIDE”
Check for weak spots around your property!
The back gate for example, make sure it’s strong, sturdy and locked at all times. You could add spikes to the top of your fence to make it difficult for intruders to climb over.
CCTV may be a good idea.
Cameras could be used as a prevention device, as well as a way to catch criminals. A RING door bell works wonders.
Increase visibility of your entrances and exits to your neighbours.
Burglars don’t want to be seen, so allowing a greater view of your home’s access points could reduce the risk of your house being targeted. Try cutting back bushes or trees, or removing anything that blocks view.
Hide your valuables!
Make sure you can’t see any expensive, or expensive looking items through windows or from outside your home. If an item seems like it could be appealing to a burglar, think about hiding it away out of sight.
Secure your sheds.
Add extra locks to your sheds, garages and other storage in your garden. Wheelie bins offer an extra boost for those trying to climb over your fence. Rogue tools and heavy objects can help them smash their way into your property, so put them away!
Remember! Burglars look for empty-looking homes, where neighbours can’t catch them, and they can get in and out quickly.
How can I help?
If you have any information regarding any of these, or related crimes, contact the police on 101. You can also anonymously report anything to Crimestoppers by calling 0800555111 or here
Community Alerts – to recieve e-mails from Gloucestershire Police, sign up here
Victim Support – if you’d like to see what help is available for those who have been a victim of burglary, click here
