Wilmslow officers continuing to safeguard community from burglaries

Police in Wilmslow are continuing work to protect residents from burglaries and vehicle thefts and have issued safety advice to prevent residents from falling victim to criminals.

Since September 2021, Neighbourhood officers and PCSOs have been delivering Operation Fierce in the Wilmslow West and Chorley ward, which has proactively provided door-step education to residents of over 1,300 houses about methods to keep their homes and vehicles secure. Thanks to the dedication of local officers and the community, home and vehicle security in the area has improved by more than 80%, helping to make Wilmslow a hostile place for criminals.

In addition to the preventative work of Operation Fierce, officers carry out patrols in hot-spot areas, on foot and in vehicles, to deter crime and identify offenders. These measures work alongside the force’s commitment to attending all reported burglaries, which are overseen by a dedicated burglary investigation team at Macclesfield.

PCSO James Morris, of Wilmslow Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:

“We have noticed an increase in burglaries where offenders have been targeting car keys with the intention of stealing vehicles. There is often a rise in burglaries during the summer holidays and into the autumn, so we would urge residents to do all they can to make it harder for offenders.

“Keep your vehicles secure and don’t leave the keys visible in your property near windows and doors, where they can easily be stolen. Additionally, installing a wheel lock can also act as a deterrent to prevent your vehicle from being driven away.

"Adding internal door bolts is a cheap and easy method to further secure your home. Even if a burglar comes equipped to break into the exterior of your house, securing internal doors with bolts is another barrier that they may not be prepared for – and will certainly slow them down, making it unattractive to continue.

“You can help us by reporting suspicious behaviour in your area, such as vehicles driving or walking slowly past properties without good reasons. Or, if you have CCTV or video doorbells, make sure they are correctly switched on and you know how to operate them should you need to."

Further tips to protect your property:

• Keep all windows and doors, including outbuildings, sheds or vehicles locked.
• Use the security measures on modern windows which allow them to let some air in but still be locked.
• Driveway bollards or security posts are visible measures to deter thieves.
• In the home, keep all valuables out of sight and ensure that large amounts of cash are never kept in the home.
• In an emergency, always call 999.