Police are appealing for witnesses to a break-in at a house in West Swindon where an amount of jewellery was stolen.
The incident happened between midday on Friday 26 May 2017 and 8.30pm on Sunday 28 May 2017 at a property in the Woodchester/Westlea Drive area.
If you can help with our enquiries please contact PC James Rodrigues on 101 or anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
To improve the security in and around your home we are asking householders to remember the following advice:
• Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when just in the garden. And make sure you have approved locks or bolts to all doors and windows
• Never leave a spare key in a hiding place like in a plant pot or letter box- a thief knows all the hiding places
• Keep all keys, purses and wallets out of sight and away from the letterbox
• Consider installing a burglar alarm, and only use a company that is registered or certified with the NSI or the SSIAB
• Do not open the door to anyone you don’t know or are not expecting. Always check by using a spy-hole or look through a window
• Make sure that you have up to date contents insurance
• Register all serial numbers from electrical items, tools and garden equipment with Immobilise.com the free national property register. Mark items without serial numbers with an artificial DNA property marker such as Smartwater or SelectaDNA
• Do not keep large amounts of cash at home- it is much safer in a bank or building society
• Trim back any plants and hedges at the front of your property to no higher than one metre to remove hiding places
• Always report any suspicious activity, note any vehicle registrations, descriptions of persons involved and direction of travel
• Use a timer to set lights to mimic your usual activity when you are not at home
• Take photographs of all jewellery including hallmarks and keep them safe. Also consider using an artificial DNA property marker on jewellery or other valuable items
• Make sure any bolts are low enough so they cannot be opened by reaching over the top of the gate
