1st May 2009: Police Warrants Send Clear Message To Criminals

NINETEEN warrants were carried out and 18 people arrested across South Worcestershire yesterday (April 30) as part of a West Mercia Constabulary operation.
The campaign - Operation Protect - aims to add to the work already done by police daily to stop local people becoming victims of burglary and bring offenders to justice.
The warrants were just one aspect of Operation Protect, a range of police activity across South Worcestershire taking place in the coming weeks. It is part of West Mercia's ongoing Safe & Secure campaign, which is aimed at assisting householders to increase security while at the same time reducing fear of crime.
Officers from CID led the warrants, supported by members of local policing teams, other police officers and forensic teams, and entered properties in Evesham, Malvern, Worcester and Droitwich.
Seventy officers were involved in targeting five homes in Evesham, two in Malvern, three in Droitwich and nine in Worcester. Six teams carried out the warrants, each consisting of around seven officers.
Six people were arrested on suspicion of burglary, eight on suspicion of handling stolen goods, one on suspicion of aggravated TWOC (Taking a vehicle Without Consent), one on suspicion of going equipped and two on suspicion of intent to supply drugs.
Around £28,000 worth of suspected stolen goods and cash was seized including LCD televisions, fireplaces, furniture and even wallpaper. Quantities of what are thought to be Class A, B and C drugs were also seized but the value of these is unknown at present.
Since the arrests there has been one charge of burglary, one caution for drugs offences and the remainder of suspects were released on police bail while enquiries continue.
Supt Garry Higgins, deputy commander of South Worcestershire police, said: "This operation has been a great success and has sent a clear message out to anyone involved in burglary in any form - we will find you. I hope this has also gone some way to reassuring our community that a vast amount is done by officers to ensure they live in a safe place.
"And West Mercia is a safe place to live. There are less than three burglaries in South Worcestershire a day, but that is three too many and West Mercia Constabulary is working hard daily to reduce this figure even further.
"As well as working with local residents, advising them how to keep their home secure, we are proactively tackling the criminals who are operating in our communities and Operation Protect is just one aspect of the work constantly put in by officers surrounding this issue.
"We are targeting not just those who commit burglaries but people we believe are involved with handling stolen goods. We want to take offenders off the streets and send a message to others that we are going to make life very uncomfortable for them.
"But the best way to make things difficult for burglars is for residents to make sure their homes are safe and secure. Up to half of all burglaries are committed by thieves who enter the house through an unlocked door or an open window."
Supt Higgins suggests the following:
. Ensure doors and windows are locked at all times
. Fit sturdy deadlocks (British Standard BS3621) to all external doors
. Take care of your keys! Keep door and car keys in a safe place, out of sight.
General home security - does your home look lived in?
. Use timer switches/sensors to turn lights on in the evenings while you are out
. Invest in external lighting
. Mark your belongings with your postcode and house number.
. If you have an alarm, set it when you leave the house.
. Ensure newspapers, post, milk etc are not left on display
. Ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you're away
Garden security
. Don't forget your garden! Effective garden security includes defensive planting (prickly shrubs and trees) and well kept gates / fences and will help to keep your home secure.
. Ensure ladders and tools are put away so they can't be used to break into your home.
Home security advice is available on the force website www.westmercia.police.uk   

24th April 2009: In Besford there was a break in to a car overnight Tues 21st/Weds 22nd. The car's window was smashed and a laptop stolen. A reminder of the importance of not leaving valuable items in cars overnight!

27th November 2008 - Supplemental: Please note that a further burglary has been reported at an address in Bredon. Between 0845hrs on 26th and 2000hrs on 27th November unknown person(s) have forced entry to the property in Blenheim Drive and stolen items including a passport and driving documents - incident ref number (646-S-271108).

27th November 2008 - Supplemental: Please note that at approx 0345hrs on 26th November, there was a burglary at an address on Pass Street, Eckington.
Person(s) unknown entered the property through an insecure front door and stole items including a computer - incident ref number (40-S-261108).

27th November 2008: Please note we have had two burglaries in Bredon and two burglaries in Drakes Broughton reported. It is not believed that the incidents in Bredon are related to those in Drakes Broughton.

1) BREDON:

Between 1630hrs-2000hrs on Weds 26th there was a brglary at an address in Orchard Close, Bredon - Jewellery was stolen - incident ref 290-N-261108.
Between 1545hrs-1910hrs on Weds 26th there was a burglary at an address on Waterloo Way, Bredon - incident ref 615-S-261108.

2) DRAKES BROUGHTON

Between 0730hrs-1800hrs on Weds 26th there was a burglary at an address on Hawthorne Close, Drakes Broughton - items stolen included high value electrical items - incident ref 561-S-261108.
Between 1630hrs-1800hrs on Weds 26th there was a burglary at another address on Hawthorne Close, Drakes Broughton - items stolen again included high value electrical items, plus jewellery - incident ref 559-S-261108.

14th November 2008: Once again, Sat Navs have been the item of choice to steal - sadly many people are still leaving their Sat Navs in cars overnight. You wouldn't leave £400 cash on your car dash board overnight, but strangely people are happy to leave expensive Sat Navs on the dash board... Please remind your members about the importance of removing these from cars, especially overnight.