Appeal after spate of burglaries in Cricklade and Purton

In the last few weeks, there have been six reported dwelling burglaries within the two locations and as a result of which a large amount of high value items have been stolen.

Property taken included a silver Apple laptop, Samsung notebook, Medion notebook, Toshiba 15’’ black laptop, cameras, white ipod, Cannon EOS 7 D black camera, Playstaion 3 320 GB-slim, boxed JVC video camera, green Karrimor rucksack and a large number of items of jewellery.

The burglaries have taken place both during the day and night and most of which have involved offenders forcing entry to windows or patio doors.

Detective Constable Gemma Vinton, from the Priority Crime Team in Swindon, said: “Although the rate of these offences is high, we are keeping an open mind as to whether or not they are all linked.

“We live in one of the safest counties in the country, with a low burglary rate. However, opportunists can strike anywhere and it is important that people heed advice to prevent themselves becoming victims of crime.

“There are very simple steps that people can take to protect their property, the most basic of these is to make sure you lock your doors and windows.

“Anyone who may have information on these burglaries or who may have been offered to buy high value electrical goods in the Cricklade, Purton or Swindon areas to contact Wiltshire Police. All information, no matter how small, might help this investigation.

“I would appeal to people to make sure they are locking up their property when they are out or asleep, especially with the summer months approaching as many people might forget to close windows or doors.

“I would also ask that any neighbours who see anything suspicious going on in their local area to contact Wiltshire Police immediately.”

Residents can prevent themselves becoming victims of such crime by:

• Locking front and back doors when going out and not leaving accessible windows open in unoccupied rooms, no matter what the temperature is or how long you intend to be out.

• Being a nosey neighbour. Tell the police if you see anyone acting suspiciously in or around premises in your neighbourhood, and if possible, take the registration numbers of any unusual vehicles.

• Always taking your keys out of your lock as thieves can reach in and open the door.

• Putting valuables, including phone chargers (which imply a mobile phone is around), out of sight. It has been known for burglars to use hooks to pick up items through letterboxes, windows and cat flaps.

• Not leaving anything in reach of a cat flap.

For more information on how to improve your home security please contact the local Crime Reduction Officers or your Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.