UTTOXETER residents are being urged to be on their guard following a spate of burglaries in the town over the last six weeks.
The town’s police said in all the incidents the burglars gained entry through a back door, usually by smashing the glass but nothing was stolen.
The latest happened in New Road between 7.30pm and 9.45pm on September 23 when a sandstone brick from the back garden was used to smash the French doors.
Once in the house an untidy search was made but nothing was found to have been taken.
A similar incident earlier in the month occurred in Stone Road between 1pm and 5pm on Tuesday, September 13.
Again the back patio door was smashed but no search of the house was made.
On August 25 two houses fell victim in one day, again with the back patio doors being smashed.
A house in Heathlands Drive that had been targeted was reported to police at 3pm after the neighbours noticed at the door had been forced open and the owners were on holiday.
The ceiling strip was ripped from the door to gain entry and the neighbours said they heard a noise at around 11am.
It was not known if anything was stolen but an untidy search of the property was made.
The other break-in occurred at the house of a 79-year-old in Ashbourne Road between 8.35am to noon.
A hammer was used on the door and the householder returned home to find the front door had been wedged open with a box and humidifier.
Nothing was stolen but it is believed the thieves were disturbed.
Sergeant Ian Cantrill, of Uttoxeter Police, said the force is linking the burglaries which have occurred across Uttoxeter during the last six weeks as the way entry is gained to the properties is similar “In most cases nothing is stolen which is a bit strange,” he said. “We are keen to get any evidence, witnesses or ideas of why this is happening.
“We are asking residents to be vigilant as a lot of the incidents are happening in the day and we would also ask people to report anything suspicious to us straight away and we will respond.
“We would prefer to check it out and it be nothing than for people to just leave it. We want to catch the offenders and find out what they are looking for as it seems to be something specific.” Following the spate of burglaries Staffordshire Police is urging residents to take simple crime prevention measures to protect their homes by looking at their property through the eyes of a burglar and making adjustments to weak spots.
Advice includes shutting windows and locking doors when in the garden or upstairs.
Anyone with any information on the burglaries is asked to phone Uttoxeter Police on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
More advice is available from the Staffordshire Police website at www.staffordshire.police.uk or from the non-emergency number on 0300 123 4455.
