Burglaries have been on the rise in south Dunstable this month, and police are urging householders to be on their guard.

Over a two-week period, there were five daytime burglaries in which thieves forced rear doors or windows while householders were out.

The hauls included computers, computer games, digital cameras and cash.

PC John Shiels, burglary reduction officer, said that police were working hard to track down the thieves.

He spelled out a number of ways in which the public could help.

Householders should ensure that doors and windows are secure, side gates are bolted and security features, such as alarms and cameras, are in working order.

They can also help by keeping a neighbourly eye on properties which they know are empty.

And they are urged to contact police as soon as they see anything suspicious, such as someone walking down the street with items that they fear may have been stolen, or loading them into a vehicle.

Meanwhile, police are pushing ahead with their anti-burglary Safer Homes scheme.

The idea is to encourage people to join Neighbourhood Watch and to security-mark valuables with products such as SmartWater.

Prisoners taken into custody suites in the county are scanned for SmartWater, which is invisible but contains a unique chemical signature that cannot be removed.

PC Shiels said: "We want to reassure residents we are doing all we can to nip these offences in the bud, but at the same time make them aware of this pattern so they can take the appropriate steps to protect their homes and their property."

Anyone with information about burglaries is urged to contact police, in confidence, on 01234 841212 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Bedfordshire Police
Crimestoppers