Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses after three schools in the Central Bedfordshire area were targeted by burglars in the two days.
Raids have taken place in Blunham, Shefford and Langford with the offenders stealing a considerable amount of computer equipment.
The first raid took place at around 10.20pm on Tuesday May 8 at Samuel Whitbread Upper School in Shefford Road, Clifton when two offenders, who were wearing balaclavas, approached the school gates, broke the lock and then drove a silver Vauxhall Vectra estate up to the reception doors. The duo then tried to smash open the doors with sledgehammer but when this failed, they then kicked the doors in to gain access. After a search of three offices the pair fled the area with £8 in cash.
Ten minutes later a similar offence took place at Langford Lower School in Church Street, Langford when unknown offenders gained access to the school building by forcing a side door with a crowbar. The offenders made their way to the school office where they took money and a small safe before leaving the premises.
On Wednesday May 9 at around 11.10pm a third raid took place at John Donne Lower School in High Street, Blunham. A witness reported seeing two men wearing balaclavas pull up at the school in a silver Vauxhall Vectra before using sledgehammers to break into the location. Once inside the offenders removed a number of laptop computers and stolen loose change from an office.
If you have information relating to any of these burglaries, please contact Sergeant Gary Kidd at Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Residents are being urged to register with the UK National Property Register at http://www.immobilise.com/ where they can log any items such as mobile phones, computers, bicycles, appliances and jewellery. Immobilise will record serial numbers and also allows the user to upload pictures and a brief description of the item.
The Immobilise database is linked directly to a number of police systems across the UK which makes it easier for officers to trace the owners of any recovered items as well as identifying items that have been found on suspected criminals.
Another measure that residents can consider is security marking their property with Ultra-Violet (UV) pens or chemical DNA marking solutions which can also be used on jewellery.
Bedfordshire Police and Crime Reduction co-ordinators continue to actively target the problem at the moment but anything that can be done to prevent the problem in the first place is invaluable.
Other measures that residents can take to reduce the threat of burglary include:
• Keep vehicle keys out of sight at night
• If you have a garage, use it
• Ensure security lights are working and your car is locked and alarmed
• Ensure all doors and windows are locked
• If you see someone acting suspiciously, telephone the police
• Join a Neighbourhood Watch or Street Watch scheme
• If you have a garage, use it
• Ensure security lights are working and your car is locked and alarmed
• Ensure all doors and windows are locked
• If you see someone acting suspiciously, telephone the police
• Join a Neighbourhood Watch or Street Watch scheme
No comments:
Post a Comment