Shock rise in Shropshire burglaries
The number of house burglaries in Shropshire has rocketed in the last three months, according to the latest figures released today.
The number of house burglaries in Shropshire has rocketed in the last three months, according to the latest figures released today.
Between April and June, 417 domestic burglaries were recorded across the county – up from 254 during the same period last year.
And 100 extra burglaries were committed in Telford & Wrekin during the three months, up from 128 in the same period in 2011.
In the wider Shropshire area, there was a 50 per cent increase with the figure, up from 126 to 189.
West Mercia Police said criminals were coming into the county from the North West and the West Midlands to carry out the raids.
Detective Superintendent Ivan Powell, of West Mercia Police, said: “The level of recorded burglary has risen across West Mercia in recent months when comparing the figures with the same period last year.
“One of the reasons for this appears to be an improvement in recording practices to ensure that crimes are categorised effectively and comply with the Home Office counting rules.
“However, of more concern is the fact that some of the increase relates to an actual rise in the level of burglaries, particularly in the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin areas.
“I would like to reassure the public that the level of burglary in the area remains low, but tackling the increase is a top priority and the whole force is focused on preventing burglaries and catching burglars.”
Comments for: "Shock rise in Shropshire burglaries"
Tim Davies-Moss
The level of burglaries has doubled.. but remains low... um.. Halved would b better but because the government wont pay for the front-line police to be out on patrol to deter these drug taking idiots.. we have to suffer the consequences
David Cameron wake up.. id rather pay an extra £10 a month council, to subsidize the police, tax than be burgled.. and im NOT alone
nathan
The problem is police like driving around in there cars and not on foot im not paying £10 pound for them to be lazy
Waterboy8535
The y drive around in cars because there's not enough of them to patrol all the streets!! Therefore they have to be at several places at once.
More front line police would mean more on the streets rather than in cars.
Tim Davies-Moss
so u want them to walk everywhere.. Good thinkin.. just imagine if u need them to your house and they have to walk or cycle over from the other side of town
Fast response just don't seem a suitable label for that
But.. at least ul save ur £10
:-(
nathan
sorry forgot theres only two police in telford
Waterboy8535
I agree with you Tim. I'd pay more tax if it went on more front line coppers to catch the crims AND more prisons to house them rather than give them 10 hours community service so they can go and burgle some more.
Unfortunately it seems to go on surveys, freebies, perks and wasteful publec enquiries. And that's not directed at one particular political party, they're all as dishonest and dodgy as each other.
rob harris
no police officers to be seen on the streets particularly at night, a detection rate of 1 in 20,community service or a small fine for offenders,corruption rife in government and business, hard working people together with the unemployed forced to choose between food and heating.
I just don't understand why the increase!!!
Brian
When I lived in Telford I hadmy house broken into and property stolen three or four times.
I moved to the US about 10yrs ago. I never lock my front door. (even when we go to work or out for the day) I never lock my cars, unless I go into the city.
If I ever needed the police. They would be here in a very short space of time despite the fact the nearest police staion is more than 5 miles away.
The real deterant is the fact that most people own guns and thieves think long and hard about breaking into someone's property. We are allowed to protect our property here.
Sure we have crime here but it's mainly in city gheto's and involve gangs. Generally the US is a very safe country to live in.
Colin.Dodd.
Don't know why this increase should be a shock. Police funding slashed = less police on the streets = more criminals taking advantage of the fact.
No surprise they are coming in from other areas, the amount of ground the Shrops. police have to cover is vast, so, again, criminals will exploit this.
Harsher sentencing would help, which means appointing some fresh judges who are not senile or out of touch with reality.
I ain't holding my breath.
Woody
I guess one could argue that the big increase in Telford alone is due to the increased housing and growing population. But I guess it is more likely to do with the town's growing drug problems and unemployment.
Policing should be increased, I'm another one who would be willing to pay extra council tax if it meant more police on the beat. Alas, the council seem to grab the money for iPads etc before it goes to frontline services.
CB
I was listening on the local radio news last week where the head of Shrewsbury police said they were increasing the number of staff on burglary squads three-fold, where exactly are they coming from? Which Peter is going to be the victim of robbery to pay for the addictions of junkie Paul?
It's quite amazing how if there's an increase in road deaths what do they do increase traffic patrols three-fold? No, they get the camera van out and some hastily sent out press releases, now that's really going to put the fear opf God into people!
Jan
having recently been burgled for my car keys, they are not junkies,they are organised gangs travelling between low risk areas targeting homes. They are not easily caught because they leave little forensic evidence and certainly find a homes weak points. Get a low cost Maplins security camera system, record people coming to your front door and monitor the rear weak entry point and the Police will find them. However, will the courts punish them?
Mr Magoo
Take into account that there will be more cuts each year until 2015 expect more crime and less police in the county... Fact....
Johnny t
Imagine how bad these figures could have been if the weather was better, apparently robbers prefer dry weather, so most of the 400 odd burglaries were committed on the 4 dry days since the end of march.
jules
More bobbies on the beat on foot patrol is not really the answer. Shropshire is a large rural area it would never work. Telford is a different story but again you put a bobby on the beat and what is the likelyhood of them being in the right place at the right time? I think the Police do an excellent job with the resources they have. It is only a minority of people that cause such mayhem. It is a sad fact that when certain people are released from prison the crime rate goes up and goes back down when they are inside again. Much police time is spent targetting these criminals who them only get a short sentance for doing 20 / 30 burglaries. I feel sorry for the Police that there hard work in catching these criminals is not rewarded by the courts in longer sentances. The Criminal Justice System is to blame.
I would happily pay more for Police Services.
Two Tone
I'd agree with the majority of your comment & would like to add that the residents / users (if commercial premises) can all do more to deter / prevent or at least make it more difficult for the thief to choose your building or access it.
Secure garden gate locks (where feasible) spikey bushes or gravel path areas under windows front and back, secure building locks, windows closed, valuables hidden from view and perhaps in a small safe fixed to a suitabler floor somewhere, cancel milk / papers when away, ask a trusted neighbour to open & close curtains, do not leave keys in the lock to the inside of external doors, do not leave ladders unchained / secured in the garden or patio furnature that may be used as steps & turn off all electrical goods at the mains so the standby lights do not become beacons of attraction.
My son, not so long ago, locked himself out of our house. He regained access by way of dragging a patio chair below one of the conservatory window which was marginally ajar, a small top-hung lite in a 300mm H X 600mm L opening, and 'slithered back in. He was 18 yo & stood 5'11" with average weight for size.
We can all do more to protect ourselves.
Matt Richards
The question that needs to be asked is what is meant by '...an improvement in recording practices...to comply with the Home Office counting rules...'? Does this mean that the Home Office has changed the counting rules or does it mean that West Mercia has previously been inaccurately recording burglaries? That is, not categorising burglary dwellings properly and therefore appearing to have less dwelling burglaries than it actually did.
Matt Richards
West Mercia Police should be made to account for what is meant by ‘…an improvement in recording practices…to comply with the Home Office counting rules…’? There has been some rise in the number of burglaries, but the above statement is surely an admission that they haven't been recording burglaries properly in the past if the change has contributed to an increase in the burglary level. The counting rules describe what has to be recorded as various crimes. E.g is a burglary of a garage attached to a house a dwelling burglary? Does it depend on whether there is a connecting door? These present many ways for forces to under record burglaries if they don't comply with the rules properly. The chief constable should issue a statement about the integrity of his force's crime recording.