Thieves target homes, cars and sheds in break-in spate

Police hold advice surgery tomorrow (Friday) after 25 burglaries in three months in Thatcham

POLICE have said that burglary is a top priority for Thatcham, after a spate of burglaries over the past few months.

Since June 1, more than nine homes and cars have been broken in to.

There were five incidents the previous month, eleven incidents in April and eight in March.

Police said that there have been a number of arrests made in, including two men charged in connection with a burglary in Thatcham on Monday in Northfield Road. Thames Valley Police neighbourhood sergeant for Thatcham, Sgt Caroline Harrison, said burglary was always a priority for police, adding that it was a crime that had a huge impact on people.

She said: “We will always deal with it and follow any lead that we get.”

Most recently, between July 6 and 7, a laptop and games console were stolen, after offenders got in to a house in Benham Hill by forcing open the back door, while the owner was away.

Thieves also took advantage of an empty house in Pegasus Close, sometime between June 29 and July 2.

They smashed a window to get in and a briefcase, cash and medals were stolen.

Between June 21 and July 5, a boarded-up property in Fishers Lane was broken into but nothing was taken.

At about 1.30am on June 1, a property in Montacute Drive was broken into but the offenders were disrupted by the owners who heard the noise.

In the morning, they noticed the front door had been damaged.

Half an hour earlier, a break in attempt had been made at the pavilion in the sports field in Lower Way.

Outbuildings and cars have also been targeted by thieves.

Two bicycles were stolen from a shed in Paynesdown Road between midnight and 4am on June 7, and a number of people have reported thefts from sheds in Colthrop Lane.

In Colthrop Road, two satellite navigation systems were stolen from a Mercedes Sprinter van, and the thieves also attacked the outside of the van to get hold of the exhaust.

Overnight between June 4 and 5, the driver's door of a Ford Mondeo parked in Foxglove Way was forced.

Cash that had been hidden under the seat was taken.

Any resident concerned about burglary can talk to police community support officers Jon Coffman and Sherrie Cranstone, who will be in the Broadway tomorrow (Friday) from 10am until 11.30am.