Police In Shropshire Investigate Six Weekend Burglary Offences

Police in Shropshire are investigating six burglary offences over the weekend in which computer equipment and jewellery worth around £5,000 were stolen.

They are seeking witnesses or other helpful information to the incidents in Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Claverley.

Household burglary is a top priority for West Mercia Police who recently launched Operation Citadel to co-ordinate a more focussed approach in tackling an increasing number of offences.

Although the number of burglaries in Shropshire remains relatively low, a recent trend has seen a significant increase with 351 offences recorded between April 1 and September 9  - 111 more than the target figure.

As part of Operation Citadel, police are anxious to make people aware of the trend encouraging greater security consciousness, reminding them to lock and secure doors and windows.  They also want to increase detections and have already secured a number of arrests resulting in offenders being jailed.

Four of the weekend's burglaries happened on Friday, three of them in Shrewsbury.

A door was forced at a house in Kingfisher Close, Shrewsbury between 7pm and 10.30pm where a variety of electrical items stolen.  They included two digital cameras, a Toshiba laptop, two portable hard drives and an Apple iPod touch.

Two laptops, two CD players and two speakers were taken from a home in Mornington Close, Shrewsbury by burglars who broke in between 5.30pm and 10pm Friday and two ladies gold watches made in the 1950s together with gold chains and a gold cross pendant were stolen at an address in Portland Crescent between 10.30am and 2pm on Friday.

Thieves also broke into a home in Aston Lane, Claverley shortly before 9pm on Friday, activating the burglar alarm.  They stole items of antique silverware and jewellery, including pearl earrings, two gold chains, a bracelet set with a 1959 sovereign, an HP laptop and a digital photo frame.

Two men aged 45 and 31 were arrested after an elderly woman reported intruders outside her home in New Park Close, Shrewsbury on Saturday.  Both have been charged with attempted burglary with intent to steal and will appear before Shrewsbury magistrates.

Police are also investigating an attempted burglary at a house in Castle Street, Oswestry at 2.40am yesterday (Sunday) when the occupants were awoken by an intruder trying to gain entry.  No entry was gained and nothing stolen.

Anyone with information which might help the police investigations into any of the burglaries is asked to call 101.  Information can also be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity by calling 0800 555 111.

Issued: Monday, 08 October 2012