Spate Of Shed Break-ins In Onslow Area

Published on: 6 Jan, 2013
Updated on: 16 Jan, 2013

Surrey Police is investigating a spate of shed break-ins in Guildford, which took place between Wednesday and Sunday, December 26 and 30.

The first incident occurred in Thorn Bank, Onslow Village, between noon on Wednesday, December 26, and 8.45am the following morning, when offenders broke into a garden shed and stole two cycles.

The second incident occurred in Guildford Park Road between 8.30pm and 9pm on Wednesday, December 26, when locks to a shed were damaged. It is thought the offenders were disturbed before anything was taken.

On Thursday, December 27, between 2pm and 7.30pm a shed was broken into in Guildford Park Road, but nothing was taken.

Shed break-ins were reported in Ludlow Road between 10am on Friday, December 28, and 8am on Sunday, December 30, but nothing was taken; and a further incident in Guildford Park Road, between 7pm on Thursday, December 27 and Friday, December 28, caused damage to the shed lock, but nothing was taken.

Guildford Neighbourhood Sergeant Helen Budd said: “Residents in Guildford are being advised to lock up their garden sheds and outbuildings securely.

“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.

Visit www.surrey.police.uk/sheds for more information.

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 contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference GD/12/11556. Alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.