POLICE have issued a plea to residents to step up security on their garden sheds after a spate of break-ins in Studley.
In all officers believe 11 sheds and outbuildings were targeted over the night of Tuesday into Wednesday (March 21-22) – three in Stapleton Close, four on Node Hill, three on Lansdowne Road and one on Crooks Lane.
And they have asked for anyone with possible CCTV coverage of those roads to get in touch in case the culprits, described as two men in dark clothing with hoods, have been caught on camera.
In some incidents the thieves sheared off the shed padlocks and in others they unscrewed the hinges to gain entry.
Their haul included a scooter, golf clubs and fishing equipment and police believe the thieves must have walked off along Lansdowne Road after their night’s work.
A police spokesperson said: “From the alarm activation and other enquiries it is thought that the offences all occurred around 1am on the morning of the 22nd.
” We would like to hear from anyone in Studley who saw anyone hanging around the roads targeted during this time, especially if any CCTV footage has been recorded showing anyone in the area. Email the team on [email protected] .”
Officers are asking residents to consider fitting an alarm to their shed, marking and registering all shed property with their postcode and house number at www.immobilise.com]www.immobilise.com or www.bikeregister.com]www.bikeregister.com .
They also suggest fitting a good quality padlock and smearing glue in the screw heads of hinges or replace them with non-return screws or bolts.
Other ideas include shackling high value goods to the building, obscuring shed windows putting up signage letting would-be offenders know your possessions are security marked and you are a member of a Watch Scheme.
