A SENIOR city detective has issued helpful advice to help stop people falling prey to burglars this Christmas - and increase the chances of the home invaders being caught.

Darker nights and the knowledge that people may have invested in expensive gifts for loved ones make homes during Christmas and New Year a prime target for burglars.

We have reported how police in South Worcestershire made 10 arrests in 10 days (from December 4) after break-ins in Battenhall, Ronkswood and St John's in Worcester and at Hartlebury, Malvern, Harvington, Evesham and Broadway.

However, while West Mercia Police has a dedicated burglary team, there are simple steps residents can make to reduce the risk of becoming victims of break-ins.

DI Dave Knight, based at Worcester Police Station in Castle Street, has issued some of his top tips to help keep ahead of the burglars.

  • Dial 999 if you suspect a burglary is in progress as this allows police to deploy resources to the scene as swiftly as possible and increases the chance of apprehending a suspect
  • Beware of cheap items being sold through social media (Facebook Marketplace etc). If it sounds too good to be true, it could well be stolen either from someone's home or a lorry.
  • Night lights and timer lights - professional burglars may watch homes near dusk. If it gets dark and no lights come on they may assume the house is unoccupied.
  • Keep car keys in a Faraday bag which can prevent thieves from cloning the key’s signal to steal a vehicle
  • If you do own a garage, make use of it and lock your car inside.
  • Speak with your neighbours if your house is going to be empty for any length of time so they can raise the alarm
  • Don't advertise you are on holiday on social media as they may signal your house is unoccupied. 

On December 4, there was an attempted burglary at an address in Ombersley Road in Worcester followed by another the same day in Albany Terrace.

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Further break-ins followed at a vacant property in Battenhall Road where entry was forced to a door but nothing appeared to have been stolen.

Burglaries have also been reported in Comer Road, St John's on December 5 where two men climbed in through a window but were disturbed and left when challenged.

It is believed the same men were involved in another burglary the same evening in Oldbury Road, St John's. They entered via an unlocked door, stole car keys and got in a car but, again, were disturbed by the homeowner and fled without taking the car.

On December 8 at Oaklands in Worcester, a watch worth thousands was stolen in a further burglary. A burglary also took place in Kilbury Drive in Worcester on December 8 where a rear sliding door was smashed and the victim had a torch shone in his face.

Dan Green, who chased the burglars out of his house, was in bed when three masked men broke into his house at about 7.35pm.

A further burglary happened in London Road in Worcester where the front door was forced open and the home searched.

Ring Doorbell and other camera footage can also be useful both as a deterrent to burglars but also for evidential purposes. We reported in July how Sam Norman, 35, could be seen using a pole to try and dislodge the camera at a home in in Pinvin, near Pershore, during an attempted burglary on July 10.

In doing so, the footage captured his face and helped secure his conviction.