PCSO Alan Newman advises: The St Neots Policing Sector has recently seen an increase in burglaries from sheds and garages. These have been mainly in rural villages around St Neots but this could escalate to other areas.
The burglaries so far have involved overnight break-ins to sheds and garages and theft of tools, garden machinery, cycles and sports equipment. There has also been a shed burglary at a nursery where children’s play equipment was stolen. The offenders are clearly out-and-about during the hours of darkness with a vehicle (probably a van) looking for likely targets.
We would like you take an opportunity to review the security on your outbuildings and make improvements wherever possible. Some suggestions as follows:
If you already have an alarm system have your outbuildings linked to it.
Install a separate shed alarm on each of your outbuildings – these are available at diy outlets at a low cost.
Make sure that padlocks are of the “shielded” type which on which it is difficult to get a bolt-cropping tool.
Make sure that that hasps and staples and any other fixings are bolted through the wood on the shed and into a metal fixing plate on the inside using security-headed bolts. This way they cannot be prised out of the wood regardless of the age of the shed.
Secure all shed/garage windows so that they cannot be prised open.
Add an extra security device to your garage door. Do not rely on the standard central lever/lock on an up-and-over garage door. They are usually made of diecast metal and can be shattered releasing the locking mechanism.
If you need to store high-value items such as cycles/sports equipment within outbuildings add some additional security such as locks/cables attached through concreted-in staples or security-fixed wall brackets or store expensive tools in locked boxes fixed to the floor/walls.
Property mark expensive items so that they can be identified. Register them on suitable websites. Check that they are covered by your insurance policies.
Police are carrying out additional patrols and stops in the sector and would ask you to be vigilant and report anything suspicious.
Regards
Alan Newman
PCSO 7045 St Neots.