Warning following theft of cars and attempted burglaries over the weekend

Police are asking those living in Cheltenham to be vigilant following a number of reported car thefts and attempts over the weekend.

A total of seven incidents were reported and these took place in Hatherley, Charlton Kings, Southam, Bishops Cleeve and the town centre. It is currently unknown if the incidents are linked.

An incident on Southam Lane took place overnight on Friday/Saturday and saw offenders gain entry to a house before stealing a handbag and purse containing two sets of car keys. A silver Vauxhall Astra with the registration BL12 SSJ was stolen from outside the property whilst a second car was left.

A second incident took place on Post Office Lane, Cleeve Hill where it was reported that an attempt had been made to force entry into the house at around 1.20am on Saturday (23 October). The homeowner was alerted by their dog barking and found that nothing had been taken.

One incident took place on Glyndthorpe Grove in Hatherley yesterday and involved the theft of a Blue Peugeot 206 with the registration VE56 MZL after entry had been gained to the house and the keys taken. The car is yet to be located and anyone who sees it is asked to please contact police.

Another burglary in Hatherley also took place on Larchmere Grove and saw offenders enter through a rear door before stealing the keys to a vehicle. This is believed to have happened between 2am and 3am.

Offenders also targeted a property on Cirencester Road in Charlton Kings, near to Bafford Lane between 1.10am and 1.25am yesterday (Sunday). This saw three people approach a car on the driveway. One of them went to the front of the house and attempted  to force open a side window which activated the house alarm. The group then left in a silver hatchback car. This was possibly an attempt to break in to find the keys for the car on the driveway.

A further incident was reported on Haywards Road near to Churchill Drive during the early hours of yesterday morning (Sunday). It was reported that two men were disturbed at around 2.20am whilst attempting to gain entry through a window. They left in a small white car and this was this was also a possible attempt to break in to find the keys for the car on the driveway.

A final incident was reported on St Georges Road, close to the Magistrates Court, between midnight and 7.20am this morning (Monday). Offenders have gone to the front hallway and found vehicle keys in a bowl before stealing a grey BMW X3 with the registration VU69 YWM.

Burglars are often opportunistic so wherever possible please prevent access to the rear of your property by locking side gates and preventing access over them.

Please remain vigilant and remember to keep your home, outbuildings and cars locked to make it more difficult for offenders to target you. Homeowners are advised to install a 'WIDE' combination of security devices as well ensuring that back gates are secure.

Car keys are the easiest way of stealing the car so are valuable items and must be kept secure and locked up out of sight. Do not leave them on hooks, shelves, in fruit bowls just inside the front door or on the kitchen table. Take them upstairs at night and don’t forget about the spare keys

Also consider the use of movement sensor security lighting and CCTV systems to cover vulnerable areas such as rear patio windows, flat roofs and sheds.

If you have any information on the above incidents please complete the following online form and quote the relevant incident number:  https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/something-youve-seen-or-heard/ 

• Southam Lane: incident 124 of 23 October
• Post Office Lane: incident 35 of 23 October
• Glyndthorpe Grove: incident 315 of 24 October
• Larchmere Grove: incident 229 of 24 October
• Cirencester Road: incident 123 of 24 October
• Haywards Road: incident 218 of  24 October
• St Georges Road: incident 64 of 25 October

Alternatively you can call police on 101 or anonymously speak to the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.