Officers are advising members of the public on various ways to secure their sheds and garages from break-ins in the Poole area.
Officers are investigating a series of shed and garage break-ins at residential properties in Poole, with more than 20 incidents reported since the beginning of August 2023.
Most cases have occurred at night between approximately 1am and 4pm in the areas of Parkstone, Branksome and Canford Cliffs.
It is reported that offenders have cut door locks or forced doors open with crowbars, before making off with high-value items such as bikes, e-bikes and power tools.
Officers are urging anyone in the BH13, BH14 or BH15 postcode areas to remain vigilant and if possible take extra precautions to safeguard their sheds and garages. Members of the public may wish to:
- Attach a secondary lock to the base of the garage
- Alarm the outer building; this can be done with a single alarm or it can be linked to the main house alarm if you have one
- Do not leave tools and ladders out to potentially assist offenders
- Place bins behind locked gates or secure them to a fixed point using a chain and padlock
- Use curtains, blinds or one-way window film on shed or garage windows to make sure criminals cannot see what is inside
- Don’t post pictures on social media of your bike, or your routes on fitness trackers/apps that show your start/finish point as offenders may be able to determine the home address of where your bike is stored
- Forensically mark and register your bikes, tools or other expensive items using an accredited forensic marking solution
For more information on how to keep your sheds and outbuildings secure, please click this link: sbd-security-leaflet-sheds-out-buildings-hr.pdf (securedbydesign.com)
For more information on how to keep your garages secure, please click this link: sbd-security-leaflet-garages-hr.pdf (securedbydesign.com)
Police Sergeant Euan Douglas, of the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, said: “We are continuing to explore a number of investigative opportunities around these burglaries.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge residents to make sure they leave their garages secure at all times so they are not an easy target for offenders, and to consider additional security such as home CCTV systems and alarms.
“I would also encourage members of the public who witness any suspicious behaviour to report it to Dorset Police or anonymously at Crimestoppers.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
