image of a home with a focus on the door lock

Advice to keep your homes safe following spate of burglaries

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Detectives in North Worcestershire are reminding people to make sure their homes and belongings are locked up safe and secure following a spate of burglaries in Kidderminster.

Three addresses were targeted by burglars, possibly in a red coloured Ford car or van, yesterday evening (Thursday 7 December). A group of four men wearing balaclavas seen in the same area were also reported to police last night.

Jewellery, a laptop, an Apple watch, and expensive trainers were among the items stolen in the break-ins which all happened between around 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Members of the public are being urged to make sure their homes are locked and secure, especially during these darker nights which create more opportunities for criminals, and are advised to put tracking apps on laptops, iPads and secure valuables in a safe place.

Here’s what we recommend you do before you go out:

  • close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes
  • double lock any door
  • make sure that any valuables are out of sight
  • keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening
  • in the evening, shut the curtains and leave the lights on
  • if you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night
  • set your burglar alarm
  • make sure the side gate, shed and garage is locked

More advice can be found here Checklist for securing your home when you leave it | Crime Prevention | West Mercia Police

Detective Constable Steph Docherty-McNeil of the Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team in North Worcestershire said: “We do not wish to alarm the public but this spike in burglaries is a timely reminder that if you want to protect your home from burglars to keep your homes locked and secured and follow our crime prevention advice.

“You can mark your belongings with our Smartwater property protection system which is available by contacting our local policing team and register valuables on the UK National Property Register at immobilise.com too.”

Tomorrow (Saturday 9 December) officers will be giving advice on how to keep your vehicle safe from criminals at two prevention sessions being held in Redditch and Kidderminster from 11am to 3pm.

There will be giveaways including vehicle scrapers, information on the Smartwater property marking system, plus there will be the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win steering locks, ring doorbells and key tags by signing up to our Neighbourhood Matters website.

You can visit officers Sainsbury’s car park, Abbey Trading Centre, Alvechurch Highway, Redditch B97 6RF or Sainsbury’s car park, Carpet Trades Way, Kidderminster DY11 6XP.