Police issue security advice after spate of burglaries in Chapel area

Over the last week, police have received reports of two properties being targeted in Chapel-en-le-Frith.

At around 2.35am on Saturday, July 23, thieves climbed through the ground floor window of a property on Homestead Way in the town.

Once inside they took a set of car keys before driving off in the homeowner’s white Toyota IQ2 which was parked on the driveway.

Sometime between Monday, July 18, and Saturday, July 23, offenders forced the rear door of an unoccupied property on Longson Road, Chapel.

An untidy search of the home was carried out and a small wooden box was stolen from the living room. All other valuables had already been removed by the homeowners.

Following the burglaries, officers from the town’s Safer Neighbourhood team will be increasing patrols, especially during the hours of darkness, to deter crime and help catch offenders.

They are also encouraging homeowners to think about the security of their own homes and vehicles to help to better protect them from being targeted by thieves.

Sergeant Denis Murphy said: “We would welcome contact from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the town or who may have information to help our inquiries.

“The team and I are doing our utmost to try to reduce similar offending and we will be on hand to offer advice around increasing your home and vehicle security, please do get in touch. Together we can stamp out crime in our communities.”

Home security advice includes:

Closing curtains at night time;

Keeping valuable items including computers, laptops and car keys out of view and ensuring they are kept away from easy access via doors, windows and letterboxes;

Ensuring doors, windows, garages and outbuildings are locked and properly secured;

Looking out for suspicious activity around neighbour’s properties and encouraging them to do the same for you;

Marking valuable property with a UV pen so that if it is stolen and recovered by the police, it can be reunited with its rightful owner;

Remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activity immediately to the police either on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone with any information about the incidents is asked to contact Sergeant Denis Murphy on 101 with the crime number mentioned above, or by sending him a message online using the Contact Us section of our website: www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us

To report a crime anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.