[C]umbria Police is appealing for witnesses and urging farmers to be aware following a spate of burglaries and attempted burglaries at farms in West Cumbria.
The burglaries have taken place at farms between 19 July and today (24 July) and a number of high-value items have been taken including quad bikes and a car.
Details of the burglaries:
1) Farm in Little Orton area
Inc 104 of 23 July 2017
Workshop broken into overnight between 6pm and 8am (22-23 July)
A red Honda quad bike was stolen along with strimmers and chainsaws
2) Farm in Longthwaite area, near Wigton
Inc 45 of 20 July 2017
Break-in to the workshop but nothing stolen at some time between 9.15pm and 6.30am (19-20 July)
3) Farm in Longthwaite area, near Wigton – Same address as (2)
Inc 100 of 23 July 2017
Stolen quad bike – taken some time between 11pm and 7.30am (22-23 July)
4) Farm in High Longthwaite area, near Wigton
Inc 180 of 22 July 2017
Stolen petrol lawnmower and petrol strimmer – taken some time between 8pm and 7am (19-20 July)
5) Farm in High Longthwaite area, near Wigton
Inc 65 of 24 July 2017
Entered farmhouse, took car key and stole Audi S4 some time between 5.45am and 7am (20 July)
6) Same address as (5)
Inc 85 of 24 July, 2017
Theft of work tools some time overnight (23/24 July)
7) Farm in Dovenby area, Cockermouth
Inc 65 of 24 July 2017
Property stolen including a chainsaw between 8.30pm and 7.30am (23-24 July)
8) Farm in Bridekirk area
Inc 86 of 24 July 2017
Theft of strimmer and chainsaw some time overnight (23-24 July)
The above incidents may be linked.
Following one of the burglaries, a man and a woman were seen around the farm in the early hours of the morning. The man was wearing a Nike hooded-top and Adidas tracksuit bottoms with stripes. He had brown hair and was of slim build.
The woman is described as smaller than the man, of medium build and with dark hair tied back in a bun or pony-tail.
Officers investigating these incidents would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious at any of these sites on the above dates or anyone who may have witnessed the vehicles stolen being transported away.
Advice on farm building security:
- Store all of your property indoors and keep your doors and windows locked
- Fit British Standard locks with strong locking bars to doors and windows. If padlocks are used make sure they are robust
- Upgrade your storage to reflect the value of your property
- Install sensor controlled ‘dusk till dawn’ security lights
- Consider CCTV as additional security for vulnerable areas
- Consider an audible and monitored intruder alarm system
- Want to know more about farm building security? Click HERE.
