The Parish Council have been in contact with our local police officers regarding the recent attempted house break-ins and van thefts.
Extra patrols were conducted in the area following the van thefts.
Thames Valley Police have advised as follows:
It is important that trades persons don’t get complacent about not locking their vans during the day and remove tools during the evening. Other areas have experienced issues in hotel and pub car parks, i.e. when trades persons stop off for a quick drink on the way home from work their vans are being targeted.
If anyone hears of any incidents it is very important that they report all suspicious activities to the Police asap so they can match their response to suit. Please report everything.
Copy and paste: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/report-a-crime
Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries.
If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, use the textphone service on 18001 101.
Thames Valley Police advice from the internet:
Burglars are often opportunistic thieves who prey on houses and flats. They seek out any opening that they can take advantage of, specifically doors and windows that are left open or unlocked or are easy to force. Anything of value that they might spot through a window will only spur them on. But it really doesn’t take much to deter these thieves – just smart thinking.
Always lock your doors and garden gates
How burglars operate and how to prevent yourself from becoming a victim
- Burglars target homes that they think will contain valuables. A sure giveaway is leaving packaging from expensive items outside your front door
- Burglars often look for homes with windows or doors left open or with vulnerable features that they can exploit.
- Burglars are aware of the times when someone is expected to be away from their house such as during the school run or holidays
- Burglars typically do not want to be seen or heard and if they feel that they would be noticed by a neighbour or passerby then they are more likely to feel exposed and may move on to find somewhere else to burgle
- Burglars often choose a home because they’ve spotted a specific vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle they want to steal – and the keys are more than likely to be inside the residence
- Sheds and Garages are often vulnerable as they are not that secure and contain tools which the burglar can use to assist them to gain entry to a home
- It’s a fact that many burglars return to homes that they’ve previously burgled because the homeowner failed to upgrade security following the first burglary. They sometimes return to an area to try to burgle a nearby home that they spotted while committing a previous break in. Even more reason for you to ensure you keep your home as safe as houses
Mark your property to deter burglars. A determined burglar can be difficult to discourage. Good-quality doors, windows and locks are excellent deterrents, but there’s even more you can do to stop burglars in their tracks.
Mark it
Make your valuables less attractive to thieves by using a property or police approved forensic marking solution only visible under Ultraviolet (UV) light. This can take the form of a special marker using ink or paint. Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your address.
All of these measures help police identify stolen goods, making it harder for thieves to sell.
Property marking isn’t only for things like electrical items and bikes: you can also mark high-value belongings like antiques. We recommend that you get specialist advice before doing this.
Record it
Register your valuables using an accredited property database.
Take photographs and keep documents like receipts related to your property so you can prove ownership.
Register your bike
If you value your bike, then register it with Bike Register https://www.bikeregister.com
Flag it
If you value it, then mark it as protected. Window stickers and signage are extremely effective and are proven to be a powerful deterrent against burglary.
Please report anything suspicious
Copy and paste: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/report-a-crime
Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries.
If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, use the textphone service on 18001 101.