Police have issued a warning after a surge in burglaries in west and north Cumbria.
Detectives said they have arrested 74 people in the last three months on burglary charges in Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland and eight people for going equipped. So far, 17 people have been charged with burglary and five for going equipped.
Officers said they expected an increase in burglaries and thefts from vehicles during the lead up to Christmas.
Detective Chief Inspector Patrick McDonnell said: “We would always encourage people to take simple steps themselves to prevent crimes such as burglary or theft.
“We know these offences are not just about the impact from loss of possessions; it is obvious people want to feel safe in their homes and any intrusion of their property can ruin this peace of mind.
“We take this type of offence extremely seriously, and we work hard to bring offenders to justice as well as to disrupt this type of crime.
“A lot of the offenders we investigate unfortunately take advantage of properties and vehicles which unfortunately have not been secured.
“While we actively seek to detect these offences, the target is actually to disrupt and prevent offenders committing these offences in the first place.
“One part of this is to actively disrupt offenders with preparatory offences such as going equipped. While these offences carry fewer sentencing powers, they will have often disrupted an offender on their way to carry out an offence.
“On behalf of Cumbria police I would actively encourage people to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity you witness.
“The reporting information not only helps inform us of potential criminal behaviour, but it can lead to timely action being taken to prevent or successfully investigate offences and bring offenders to justice.”
Cumbria police’s tips to prevent burglaries
Home security – What can you do?
- Lock doors and windows before you go out and ensuring that your house and keys are secure.
- Remove keys from locks and keeping them out of reach, not on a hall table.
- Ensure side gates and sheds are locked with a good quality lock.
- Keep cash and valuables locked away safe or well hidden.
- Consider increasing your security with good quality locks, CCTV and chains.
Vehicle security – What can you do?
- Do not leave your vehicles unlocked
- Never leave any items of value in your vehicle on leaving it unoccupied
- Wherever feasible do not leave any work or business-related equipment in your vehicle, especially when your vehicle is left unoccupied overnight – having such items stolen can have a serious impact on your livelihood
- Remove items of value from the glove box – this includes vehicle registration documentation
- You may know that a bag or a box in your vehicle is empty or contains nothing of value, but an offender won’t and it may catch their attention
