Police urge people to check security after spate of burglaries

Police are urging homeowners to check their home security following a spate of burglaries across the south of the county.

There have been burglaries and attempted burglaries in Mill Road, Cherry Hinton, King’s Hedges and Barnwell areas of Cambridge, as well as Gamlingay, Ely and Histon, between Monday, 20 May, and yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May).

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.”

We recommend the following home security advice 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.

Further home security advice can be found on the force website.

Details of the most recent burglaries and attempted burglaries in the south of Cambridgeshire are below:

• Two purses with money, a licence and credit card were stolen between 4pm on Monday, 20 May, and 11am, on Tuesday, 21 May, from a home in Covent Garden, Cambridge city centre. Crime reference: 35/36594/24.

 

• Three men entered a property in Mill Street, Gamlingay, at about 1.30pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May) and searched a property. They were chased from the house and escaped in a blue car, driven by a man. Crime reference: 35/36428/24.

 

• A purse containing bank cards and money, a tin containing £300, and designer clothes were stolen from a home in Turner Drive, Ely, at about 2pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Crime reference: 35/36457/24

 

• An attempted burglary at a house in Cambridge Road, Ely, at about 2.30pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May), where two men were seen trying to break in. They ran off towards Witchford Road when disturbed. Crime reference: 35/36498/24.

 

• Jewellery was stolen from a house in Normanton Way, Histon, at about 3pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Three men were seen breaking in and leaving in a white car. Crime reference: 35/36449/24.

 

• An attempted burglary at a house in Fernlea Close, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, at about 3.50pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May) where a man tried to get in through an unlocked door and ran away when the homeowner screamed. Reference: CC-22052024-0367.   

 

• A burglary at a home in Nicholson Way, King’s Hedges, Cambridge, between 4.20pm and 8pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Reference: CC-22052024-0519.

 

• A wedding dress, passport and bank cards were stolen from a house in Wadloes Road, Barnwell, Cambridge, yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Reference: CC-22052024-0605.

Anyone with any information or doorbell CCTV of any of these burglaries and attempted burglaries should report it through the force website using the relevant reference number.

Anyone without internet access should call 101.  

In an emergency, dial 999 or you can report information through the force website.