Residents urged to be cautious after Cambridgeshire break-ins

A spate of burglaries have taken place across Cambridge, Ely and Gamblingay.

Police are urging homeowners to check their home security following break-ins on Mill Road, Cherry Hinton, King's Hedges, Barnwell and other areas of Cambridgeshire.

Officers have put together this advice to follow when you're not at home:

· Lift, lock and remove the key from your doors and make sure it’s double-locked if possible.
· Make sure windows are secure and locked.
· Make sure that any valuables are out of sight.
· Keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys, including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening.
· Never leave car documents or ID in obvious places, such as kitchens or hallways.
· In the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on.
· If you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night.
· Set your burglar alarm.
· Make sure the side gate is locked.
· Lock your shed or garage.
· Lock your bike inside a secure shed or garage, to a robust fitting bolted to the ground or wall, like a ground anchor.

Detective Sergeant Jon Lockwood, from the force's Acquisitive Crime Team, said: 

"We've seen burglaries in Cambridge where victims are leaving doors and windows unlocked, which is being exploited by opportunistic burglars. There has been a spike of these, especially the Mill Road area. 

I would encourage people to report suspicious behaviour to us so we can get a fuller picture of what is happening in the community.

None of these burglaries are linked and investigations are on-going".