Police in South Gloucestershire are warning householders to be on the alert after recovering two cars stolen during burglaries.
Two homes in Oldland Common and Longwell Green were burgled this week, and on each occasion the thieves used the householder’s own car to make off having found the keys.
Overnight Tuesday February 23 to Wednesday February 24 thieves broke into a house in Oldland Common and took a Nissan Micra plus a mobile phone, camera, keys and cash.
In the early hours of Wednesday a home in Longwell Green was broken into and the owner’s Renault Scenic used to remove electrical items including a television and a DVD player, plus a handbag and contents including cash and bank cards.
Both vehicles were recovered by police yesterday, Wednesday February 24 2010. The Micra was reported to police as blocking a driveway in Longwell Green. The Scenic, still containing some of the stolen property, was found by officers in Barrs Court. The handbag was found by a member of the public dumped in a nearby footpath.
Neighbourhood Inspector Kevin Thatcher said: “Burglary is such a distressing crime that one burglary is one too many. South Gloucestershire is a safe place – fewer than one per cent of residents fall victim to burglary – but we must all play our part to make sure it stays that way.
“Police are using intelligence and crime data to target their patrols and have had some positive arrests and charges recently. I would ask householders to call police immediately if they spot any suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhood. Don’t let your home become an easy target for criminals. Always lock up and keep your keys and handbag or wallet hidden safely out of sight.”
Source: Avon and Somerset Police
