Officers are warning residents to be vigilant following a spate of break-ins in the Penkhull area.
The incidents occurred between the 15 and 22 December when offender/s targeted sheds and garages in Wadham Street, Princes Road, West Avenue, Watson Street, Oxford Street, Honeywall and Elenora Street. Items stolen include bikes, tools, jewellery and a scooter.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Barry Joynson at Staffordshire Police on 101.
Alternatively they can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
Residents are reminded of the below crime prevention advice:
Garden sheds:
- make sure that your shed is in good condition – that the door, door frame and walls are solid
- replace any damaged or rotten areas with new sections
- if you are in the process of buying a shed, try to place the door facing your house and not too close to a perimeter wall or gate
- consider storing valuable items in a strong lockable box or cage
- fit two closed shackle padlocks on strong padlock hasps – one a third of the way up from the bottom of the door and one a third of the way down from the top of the door
- secure padlock hasps and door hinges using threaded coach bolts with backing plates or large backing washers to prevent the bolt being pulled through the wood – not screws which are easily pulled or forced from wood
- fit key-operated window locks on the corners of all windows that open. If you never open windows, you could screw them permanently shut from the inside
- fit wire mesh or bars on the inside of your window frames
- wrap a strong chain around and through the handles of garden tools, lawn mowers, cycles etc and secure the chain to the wall using a padlock or a ground anchor fixed to the base of the shed.
Garages:
- doors should conform to British Standard PAS 24-1- basically a solid door and frame with as little glass as possible
- use a five lever mortise lock conforming to British Standards 3621
- fit mortise bolts at the top and bottom
- up and over garage doors should be secured with locks fitted to the garage base or with garage mortise bolts fitted to each side
- tools should be kept locked away.The use of a steel box fitted to the floor would deter any theft
- if your car is in the garage it makes it harder for the thief to move around to find your property
- ladders should be locked away or securely chained and padlocked to a strong post or wall.
