Thieves have been creeping into people’s homes in the Newbridge, Oldfield Park, Kingsmead and Bathwick areas of Bath to steal items they’ve spotted through windows.
This week police have seen five burglaries where thieves have stolen iPads, wallets, bags and jewellery which had been left in the view of passers-by.
Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Mildren said: “Thieves have been forcing windows to reach in and take tablet computers or wallets. One householder was in another room with friends at about 11pm when someone crept in through an open bedroom window and took a laptop and a wallet. In another incident thieves used a step ladder left in the garden to force a window and take jewellery, iPads and a laptop.”
There are a few easy steps you can take to protect your home:
- Lock your doors and windows – even if you are only in another room or your garden. A third of burglaries happen at homes where doors or windows have been left unlocked.
- Make sure tools and ladders are securely locked away and that thieves can’t use water butts, wheelie bins and garden furniture to get to upstairs windows.
- Don’t leave keys in the back of the door or in sight of letterboxes or cat flaps.
- Keep your wallet, handbag, mobile phone and other valuables safely out of sight.
- Register your belongings on www.immobilise.com the free national database we check to find the rightful owner of property we seize from suspected thieves.
- Mark your things with your house number and postcode.
- Take photos of valuable jewellery or items with sentimental value and keep them somewhere safe.
- Join or set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme for your area.
Insp Mildren added: “It’s also important to look out for your neighbours. If you see someone acting suspiciously please do give us a call straight away on 101. If you’re in any doubt, ring anyway – we’d prefer to have a well-intentioned call than to miss the chance of preventing or detecting a crime.”
There’s more home security advice on Avon and Somerset Police’s website, www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.
