Alert over burglaries
DETECTIVES have urged Runcorn residents to be vigilant after burglars targeted five outbuildings in the town over the weekend.
A Cheshire police spokesman said crooks entered three garages and a shed on Coronation Road, Langdale Road and Poolside Road some time between 10pm on Friday and 9.45am on Saturday.
An intruder also gained entry to a shed on Princes Close in Castlefields at some point between 5pm on Saturday and 2.45pm on Sunday.
Items including a mountain bike, which has since been found, were stolen during one of the incidents. They were taken from a shed on Langdale Road between midnight on Friday and 9.45am on Saturday.
The spokesman said that three young people were seen entering a garage during on of the incidents on Langdale Road.
He said there is no evidence at present to indicate any of the five incidents being linked but detectives are keeping an open mind.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to come forward.
Residents are urged to take action to protect themselves to reduce the chances of becoming victims.
Detective Sergeant Rob McLoughlin, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “Enquiries in relation to the incidents are ongoing and I urge anyone with any information or footage regarding them to get in touch. Perhaps you witnessed something suspicious in the Higher Runcorn or Castlefields areas at the weekend or have information or CCTV or dashcam footage regarding those responsible for any of the garage or shed break-ins.
“If you have any information or footage that may help our enquiries please call us on 101, quoting IML 560626.”
He added: “Residents can also help us and themselves by making it as difficult as possible for criminals to enter their outbuildings. They can do this by following our crime avoidance advice.”
Residents are urged to following these tips:
Never leave a garage, shed or other outbuilding unlocked and easy prey for opportunist thieves.
Fit strong padlocks to outbuilding doors and make sure the doors are solid enough not to be kicked in.
Good external security lighting can put off or draw attention to a thief or burglar – 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.
Anyone with external security lighting that comes on when sensing movement should 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 access land.
Solid fences or walls, particularly those with a flat or rounded top, are relatively easy for a thief or burglar to climb over – fixing trellising to the top can make it more difficult.
Check for weak spots where a thief or burglar could access land.