Police call for vigilance

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Burglaries from outbuildings

Cheshire Constabulary is advising residents across the county to be vigilant following a spate of burglary incidents involving outbuildings, including sheds and garages.

Superintendent Laura Marler said: "The public can aid our fight against such crimes by contacting us if they see such burglaries being carried out or anyone acting suspiciously in their area.

"Information in relation to anyone carrying out, or suspected to be carrying out, such burglaries will also be gratefully received.

"Cheshire residents can also help us and themselves by making it as difficult as possible for criminals to break into their sheds, garages and other outbuildings. They can do this by following our anti-burglary advice."

The force's tips for deterring would-be burglars and protecting your outbuildings are:

• Never leave a garage, shed or other outbuilding unlocked and easy prey for opportunist thieves
• Fit strong padlocks to outbuilding doors and make sure that the doors are solid enough not to be kicked in
• Good external security lighting can put off or draw attention to a thief – the most appropriate form is high efficiency low energy lighting controlled by a dusk-to-dawn switch so that it only comes on when it is dark
• If you have external security lighting that comes on when sensing movement make sure that the lights are directed downwards to prevent them from being annoying to neighbours and dangerous to passing traffic
• Strong fencing or gates will make it difficult for intruders to get onto your land
• Solid fences or walls, particularly those with a flat or rounded top, are relatively easy for a burglar to climb over – fixing trellising to the top can make it more difficult
• Check for weak spots where a thief could get onto your land, such as a low or sagging fence or a back gate with a weak lock
• A thorny hedge along the boundary of your property can put thieves off, as can gravel areas due to the noise of walking on them

Anyone with information about burglary incidents in the county should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or give the details via https://cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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