Spate Of Garage Break-Ins – Police Warn Residents

Published on: 5 Mar, 2013
Updated on: 8 Mar, 2013

Police officers are investigating a spate of garage break-ins in Onslow, Park Barn and Stoughton which have taken place over the last few days.

Two off-road motor cycles and three pedal cycles were stolen after thieves forced the door to a garage at an address in High View Road some time between February 27th and March 1st. In Queens Road, off Stoke Road, a garage was also targeted sometime between 10am and 9-15pm on March 1st . Here thieves escaped with a £1,000 guitar.

Thieves escaped empty-handed after attempting to break into a garage in Bargate Court overnight on 2 March. A large quantity of tools and ladders were taken after thieves broke into a garage in St John’s Close between February 21st and 26th .

Officers are also investigating after six bicycles were taken from a garage in Hilltop Close sometime between 20 and 24 February. One of the bikes was a bespoke GT ‘hardtail’ mountain bike and made especially for its owner by his friend with his name engraved on it.

Doors to a number of garages were also targeted, including one in Scillonian Road overnight on 1 March. Five garage door handles were ripped off from a block of garages in Greville Close and the door handle of a garage in Hopton Court was broken off, both of which took place overnight on February 25th .

15 year old boy arrested

Enquiries are continuing after a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of burglary after he was spotted acting suspiciously on Sunday evening (March 3rd) in the garden of a house in Beech Grove, Guildford, around 5-40pm. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries, to return to Guildford police station on April 9th.

Guildford Acting Borough Commander Inspector Amy Buffoni said: “Residents in the Guildford area are being advised to lock up their garden sheds and outbuildings securely.

“Garages and sheds can be an easy target for the opportunist thief particularly if they contain expensive equipment and when they are sited away from main properties where they are not overlooked. I would strongly urge residents to spend some time upgrading garden security so you don’t become the next victim of crime.”

“I would also add that we need the community to play its part in deterring this type of criminal activity. Please call us on 101 if you see any suspicious activity, as your call could make a real difference.”

Surrey Police recommends the following security tips:

Fit a good quality padlock, which has a hardened steel shackle (the part which opens and passes through the hasp) to all shed doors. The shorter the shackle the better because it prevents the jaws of bolt croppers being able to be placed around it
Use anti-tamper screws or smear hard setting glue on the screw-heads of the door hinges
Lock or permanently fix windows shut and cover them, perhaps with an old curtain, so no one can see what is kept inside
Install a shed alarm and place a sticker in the window or on the door to advertise the fact
Mark valuable property, including lawnmowers, power tool, bikes, and garden furniture by permanently etching on your postcode and house number
Chain up bicycles, lawnmowers and motorbikes and secure them to a fixed point in the shed
Consider storing more expensive electrical goods indoors or in a more secure building such as a brick-built structure
Make sure that fences/gates to your property are secure and remember to put any property away at night or when you go out during the day
Darkness is the perfect cover for burglars and the effective and economic answer is to install outside lighting, which comes on only when people are present.

Readers can visit www.surrey.police.uk/sheds for more information.

Police advise anyone who is witnessing suspicious activity taking place at the time is asked to call 999, or if you have information relating to these incidents please contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference GD/1679. Alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.