Burglaries on the increase

Dorset Police have issued an appeal to residents to improve their home security and keep an close eye on their community, following a spate of household burglaries in the area.

Thirty-two homes were burgled between 1 April 2009 and 23 July 2009 in East Dorset, which includes Ferndown, Wimborne, Three Legged Cross and Verwood areas.  This compares to twenty-one house burglaries during the same period last year.

East Dorset Section Commander, Inspector Mike Darkin, said: “All of these burglaries have been to unoccupied homes. In the vast majority of cases, entry has been gained by smashing glass at the rear of the property.

“When officers visited the affected homes, none of them were fitted with alarms and in many cases window locks were present but hadn’t been used.

“East Dorset remains one of the safest places to live in the country, and in the past ten years, dwelling burglary has reduced by fifty-nine per cent in Dorset.

“However, following this spate of offences, we are increasing our patrols in the affected areas and are carrying out in-depth analysis to identify any patterns or trends which may help us apprehend those responsible.”

Householders are being advised to review and update their home security - fit a house alarm and make sure that window and door locks are secure before leaving their property.