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.