Warning to make homes secure after burglaries

Officers are urging residents to secure their homes after an increase in the number of reported burglaries in which jewellery has been stolen.

Police have been called four times in the last two weeks, with victims reporting thefts of family gold and cash occurring on weekdays.

Officers were first called at 2.48pm on Thursday 16 September to Gilman Street in Hanley where a window had been forced and a number of jewellery items stolen.

Police were called again at 10.49pm the same day to Bycars Road in Burslem where £50 cash was stolen.

On Wednesday 22 September at 8pm, officers were called to Star and Garter Road in Lightwood where CCTV showed four males using a garden ladder to climb through a window, however, nothing was stolen.

Later that day, police were called to Etruria Vale Road at 10.44pm when a door was forced and a search carried out, but nothing was reported stolen.

Officers working on the case recovered a BMW X3 vehicle in North Wales on Tuesday (5 October).

The car is believed to have been used by offenders after being stolen in Shropshire on Saturday 18 September.

Officers believe offenders will now be using a white VW Golf or another possibly stolen vehicle displaying cloned number plates.

In order to keep your home safe from burglars:
• close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes
• double-lock any door
• make sure that any valuables are out of sight
• keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys
• never leave car documents or ID in obvious places such as kitchens or hallways
• in the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on
• if you’re out all day, use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night
• set your burglar alarm
• make sure the side gate is locked
• lock your shed or garage
• lock your bike inside a secure shed or garage, to a robust fitting bolted to the ground or wall, like a ground anchor.

Anyone with information, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of the burglaries at the time is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident number 835 of 22 September.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

To find out more about protecting your home and valuables, visit: Checklist for securing your home when you leave it | Crime Prevention | Staffordshire Police