Violent crimes force police to up presence in Tilehurst

Spate of brutal robberies and burglaries has raised fears the area is becoming a target for gangs

A SPATE of brutal robberies and burglaries in Tilehurst has forced Thames Valley Police to increase visible patrols amid fears the suburb is becoming a target for violent criminal gangs.

James Bloor jewellers, in School Road, was the latest target of armed masked raiders on Wednesday as owner James Bloor fought off a group of balaclava-clad attackers but suffered puncture wounds to his back while defending the store, thought to be from a screwdriver.

The attempted robbery follows several similar incidents across the suburb in recent weeks including:

*An incident on the same day in Brian Dowding Court, off City Road, where a man was beaten in his bed by three masked men carrying spades and scaffolding.

* A “cowardly” attack on an office worker on Saturday (15) who was hit on the head while he was sleeping inside the office early one morning before robbers stole the safe.

*A knife-point attack on a sleeping occupant of a house in Romany Lane by a gang of four or five burglars.

Police are also providing security advice to businesses following a series of break-ins and thefts which have accompanied the recent high-profile incidents.

Di Nick Watts, from Reading CID, said it was not believed that the same gang was carrying out the attacks due to the different styles of robbery taking place.

“We understand that the local community will naturally be concerned by the number of offences that have happened in a relatively small geographical area in a very short space of time,” he said.

“In particular we realise that some people involved in the commercial sector will have concerns.”

“We have increased patrols in the area and we are contacting businesses in the area to provide some security advice, particularly what they should do around cashing up times.

“We have a large number of detectives working on these investigations and we have got some suspects that we are looking at and we are actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry. However, there have been no arrests at this time."

According to the UK crime statistics map Tilehurst East and West recorded seven robberies in the last month, more than any other neighbourhood within a ten mile radius.

Thames Valley Police is keen to speak to anyone who may have information about any of the incidents and is asking people to call 0845 8 505 505 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.