THIEVES are breaking into Staffordshire tool sheds and using stolen tools to force entry into the owner’s homes.
A rash of burglaries in Stafford, Rugeley and Lichfield has led Staffordshire Police to urge homeowners to step up their security, with a number of simple preventative measures suggested.
A spokesman for the force said it was important to keep outbuildings and homes secure ensuring sheds and garages were fitted with locks and tools put away and to report any suspicious activity to police.
“Shed alarms and security lighting can be a deterrent,” he said. “Mark your property with your postcode and house number – this can assist with returning stolen property and can also be a deterrent to an opportunist thief.”
He said threading a secured chain or wire through tool handles could make them harder to remove as well as suggesting boundary fencing, hedges or padlocked gates as ways of making gardens seem less inviting to thieves.
“If you have a burglar alarm, remember to set it and leave contact details with neighbours,” he added. “And if you have to leave ladders outside, make sure they’re on their side and securely fixed to a wall or permanent fixture.”
He also recommended securing passageways and side entrances and making sure wheelie bins were not adjacent to the property and easily used to access windows.
