February 7, 2012 11.47 am This story is over 144 months old

Police warning as Abbey Ward burglaries spike

Crime spike: Police are warning people in the Abbey Ward of the city to be vigilant after a significant increase in burglaries.

Lincolnshire Police recorded a significant increase in burglaries in Lincoln’s Abbey Ward and are warning people to be vigilant.

Burglaries in the area increased 60% since December. The main areas affected are the roads off Monks Road.

People living in the area are being asked to make sure they lock their doors and windows and to report any suspicious activity as soon as possible.

The offences are taking place at various times through the day and night and offenders are getting in either through unlocked doors and windows, or by forcing or smashing windows.

A variety of property from electrical goods to jewellery and alcohol is being stolen.

Plea for help

Inspector Pat Coates said: “We are putting extra resources into the area to prevent and detect these crimes but we need people to reduce their chances of becoming a victim by making sure they lock their doors and windows when they are way from their houses and even when they are at home in the evening.

“It is also a good idea to buy some cheap timer switches for your lights from a DIY shop. You can use these to make your house look occupied in the early evening before you get home from work, or if you are away for a couple of days.

“We also need people to report any suspicious looking people or cars in residential areas. You are not wasting our time by calling us with this type of information – you’re actually drastically increasing our chances of arresting the burglars responsible for these crimes.

“If there’s an unfamiliar face hanging around your road, or a vehicle that keeps driving around the area then get as much information as possible in terms of descriptions, especially things like car registration numbers, and give us a call. If we work together we can really reduce the impact of these criminals.”

You can call Lincolnshire Police with information on 101, or call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: Lincolnshire Police