Alert after rise in home burglaries (From Swindon Advertiser)

Alert after rise in home burglaries

1:00pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News By Scott D'Arcy

Alert after rise in home burglaries

DETECTIVES have issued an urgent warning to homeowners after 40 burglaries were reported across the town in just a fortnight.

Wiltshire Police is increasing patrols in Swindon following a recent rise in the number of house burglaries – around double the number of dwelling burglaries reported on average in a two-week period.

Thieves have mainly targeted areas including Eldene, Liden, Park North and Park South and have taken jewellery and electrical items such as iPads, tablets and laptops.

The culprits have also brazenly broken in through rear windows or doors between daylight hours of 10am and 6pm.

The Adver has run appeals on several incidents recently, including a break-in at a house in Cranmore Avenue, where the thieves stole two games consoles and accessories between 8.50am and 3.30pm last Tuesday.

A home in Darcy Close, Grange Park, was also ransacked for jewellery last Tuesday, after the offenders smashed a hole through a kitchen door at the rear of the house before making off.

One homeowner from Hunter’s Grove, Rodbourne, returned to his house after being out for a matter of hours, between 11am and 2.30pm last Wednesday, to find jewellery and his television missing.

Detective Inspector Mark Garrett, who leads the dedicated investigation team, said: “I would like to reassure the public that we are conducting a thorough investigation into every reported burglary.

“A large number of additional resources are patrolling Swindon in an attempt to catch these offenders in the act of committing an offence.

“I appeal for householders to be extra vigilant during this time and immediately report any suspicious incidents to Wiltshire Police using 999.”

Anyone with any information should contact the Priority Crime Team on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.