Officers set to tackle serious acquisitive crime as part of focused campaign

We have re-launched our dedicated campaign that will see us to continue to tackle serious acquisitive crime in our communities.

The Be Sure You’re Secure campaign re-launches today (16 December) and will see officers across our local policing teams continue their efforts to protect the public from the devastating impact this type of crime has across Staffordshire. 

Serious acquisitive crime consists of burglary, robbery and theft. The campaign comes as residential burglary in six areas of Staffordshire have seen increases in the last 12 months. The Stoke-on-Trent south area has seen an 9.7 per cent increase, while the Staffordshire Moorlands has seen 153 reported burglaries up from 100, Stafford has seen an increase from 237 to 303 and Tamworth has seen an increase from 206 to 248.

The number of reported car thefts in Lichfield, South Staffordshire and the Moorlands has also increased in the last 12 months compared to the previous 12 months. 

In the last 12 months, a total of 197 residential burglaries have had a criminal justice outcome, with 189 of these resulting in a charge and 91 percent of all reported burglaries have been attended by an officer.

While we are committed to attending reported residential burglaries, we are also issuing materials and advice to anyone concerned about serious acquisitive crime in their areas. 

The College of Policing says that research shows when a home is burgled, there is an increased risk of properties within 400 metres of the property being targeted by burglars in the following six weeks.

Cocooning is activities that are designed to prevent this targeting and to protect neighbouring properties and people from falling victim to burglary. 

That is why we are also issuing specific advice to affected communities and encouraging people to use a combination of four security devices: window locks, interior lights on a timer, double door locks or deadbolts and exterior lights on a sensor. 

The advice also extends to protecting your car and valuables from opportunistic thieves. 

Earlier this year, we managed to reunite a musician with their music equipment, worth in the region of £20,000 which had been stolen in a vehicle in the Stafford area.

Officers were alerted to the burglary, which took place at around 3.30am on 12 August, after the victim reported her car keys had been stolen from a property in Stafford.

We carried out inquiries and the vehicle was spotted making off from a nearby petrol station without the driver making payment.

Officers pursued the vehicle in the Meir area when it suddenly stopped and two suspects ran off.

We recovered the stolen car, the keys, the guitar, amplifier, microphone and other items. They have been returned to the victim.

We since made four arrests and our investigation is continuing. 

Southern Crime Lead, Detective Chief Inspector Rob Hessell, said: “We understand the detrimental and significant impact burglary, robbery and theft has on victim’s and we’re committed to tackling these crimes in our communities.

“Our teams are working together to prevent these crimes, bring offenders to justice, provide crime prevention advice, support victims and reassure our communities that we will investigate reports as thoroughly as possible.

“Although we tend to see an increase in these crimes over the winter period, unfortunately they still occur all year round – so we want to encourage people to remain vigilant, report anything suspicious, keep an eye out for each other and if something doesn’t feel right, let us know.”

For more crime prevention advice, visit: https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/ .