Appeal to find owners of stolen items

Police are appealing to find the owners of items which they believe were stolen from homes during a series of thefts in Cheltenham recently.

It follows investigations by Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team into burglaries as part of Operation Switch.

As a result, a number of items have been recovered and officers are keen to trace the owners.

Items include a selection of watches, an antique dress sword, a metal coat of arms, a medal, laminated stamps, a lighter and a cigarette holder.

Officers would like to hear from anyone who believes that they have had any of these items stolen from them. Contact Hester’s Way Police Station on 01452 907630, quoting crime reference CR/40448/20.

Operation Switch is an anti-burglary campaign which has been run across the county over the last few weeks. As part of the annual operation, police encourage the public to look at installing a 'WIDE' combination of security devices as they can provide 49 times more protection against residential burglary with entry compared to having no devices installed.

Sergeant Adam Williams said: "Burglaries are a particularly emotive offence that can have a significant impact on the victims. Operation Switch aims to help safeguard the community from offenders as they take advantage of the darker evenings."

More information on the campaign and ways to help protect your home can be found here: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/police-forces/gloucestershire-constabulary/areas/gloucestershire/campaigns/burglary/

A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged with burglary in connection with the items and will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court later this month.