Tackling Rural Crime

Those that have read AudlemOnline in recent weeks will be aware that we have carried a number of reports of rural thefts. As a result, we have received a number of suggestions that we warn readers about incidents and urge people to be alert to security.

One bout of thieving on Sunday evening resulted in a fatal car crash later that night in Baldwins Gate as the thieves were chased by police back towards Stoke, where they were based.

As with other reported incidents over the years, more than one farm or house was involved on Sunday as long-distance thieves have a go at a number of properties.

All too often gangs of thieves travel to the area from major conurbations. There was a famous case some years ago when the police were pleased to see a sharp reduction in local incidents over a period of months only to later discover the drop coincided with the closure of the nearest M6 Junction for major engineering work.

Given rural locations, and the lack of rural policing – in contrast , for example, to the number of police involved after the raid this week on Moody's Jewellers in Nantwich which we are glad to hear led to arrests – might a bit of self-help be the answer.

We are not talking about vigilante action, of course, but one feature of the hit & run at Norman Huntbach's premises on Sunday was that, despite his injuries, he was able to alert others on Facebook that thieves were about. Those in Adderley and towards Norton in Hales who were later targeted were on the look out after Norman's message.

Might it not be a good idea to have a Facebook alert system covering south Cheshire and over the border into north Shropshire and perhaps nearby Staffordshire so that one break-in, or an attempt at a break-in, could be broadcast immediately, so warning everyone to be watchful. At the very least, it might help identify suspicious vehicles that had been seen at an incident.

AudlemOnline is always happy to help but we do not provide 24-hour cover – despite how it feels on occasions! – whereas Facebook works day and night.

AudlemOnline and Joe Hoyles have already worked recently on a tourist promoting Facebook page (Audlem CW3), which is working well and attracting many 'likes'. Maybe a similar 'Burglar alert' Facebook page would be a practical and realistic way of helping the police who, even in a perfect world, cannot be everywhere in rural locations.

Some quick research shows that similar systems have been set up elsewhere and appear to have the support of their police force albeit more investigation is needed.

Your thoughts: would a Facebook operation along these lines be welcome? Is this a step in the right direction?

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.