Child Population In Melksham

Don't let thieves in say Melksham police (From This Is Wiltshire)

A rise in the number of burglaries in Melksham has prompted police to relaunch a campaign urging people to be more security conscious.

The town’s police inspector has revealed there have been 81 burglaries between April 1 and December 6, an average of just over two a week, with another deluge over the last few weeks.

This compares to 85 in Trowbridge, a town of almost double the population, from April 1 to December 13.

In one incident, on December 9, an unlocked back door at a home in Lavender Close, Melksham, meant thieves were able to walk in and steal items including a Fuji camera, LG mobile phone and a pink and white purse.

It is thought the owner had gone to take her children to school when the thieves struck between 8.45-9.30am.

The Wiltshire Times and Wiltshire Police launched a joint campaign, Lock It Up or Lose It, in the summer, urging people to be more security-minded.

Inspector Dave Cullop, of Melksham police, said the campaign slowed down the number of burglaries, but people had become complacent again.

“We are not looking at sophisticated criminals, it is as basic as people leaving their doors open and these thieves walking in,” he said.

“The Melksham figures are way over what we would have expected.

“There was a rise that occurred between April and June, but then when we launched the Lock It or Lose It campaign this dipped.

“From around July to November we were averaging no more than four burglaries a month, thanks to a combination of the campaign and officers targeting suspects. However since November it has shot up again and gone back to the same problem.”

The latest figures have prompted Wiltshire Police to relaunch the Lock It or Lose It campaign, specifically targeting Melksham.

Inspector Cullop said that about three-quarters of the 81 burglaries committed in Melksham since April involved criminals being able to get in through unlocked back doors or climb through unsecured windows He added: “They are going for things like handbags and purses, but there have also been some electrical goods stolen. They are not coming into people’s homes and looking for antiques or jewellery.

“We need people in the community to help and take note of what they can do to help themselves.”

Insp Cullop said it is likely Christmas could play a factor in how attractive homes are to thieves, with presents often left out on show.

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Post office [afterw.] Kelly's directory of Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire (the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands).

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