Eight burglaries in Kempshott

Police in Basingstoke are appealing for witnesses after a number of burglaries in Kempshott in the early hours of Saturday, April 18.

Between 3am and 5am four addresses in Windermere Avenue, two addresses in Coniston Road, two addresses in Derwent Road and a car in Pack Lane were broken into.

Electrical items including televisions, DVD players, game consoles and sat navs were then stolen from the addresses.

Car keys were also taken from one of the addresses and a car parked outside was then opened and searched. However the vehicle was not stolen.

A camping cutlery set was stolen from a Ford Fiesta parked in Pack Lane. Officers believe the incidents are linked and want to hear from anyone with information about them.

PC Ben Lee, of the Basingstoke Priority Crime Unit, said: “These burglaries happened in the early hours of Saturday morning and someone may have been disturbed and seen something.

“We would also appeal to anyone who was up early for work on Saturday and may have seen any suspicious activity in the Kempshott area.

“Anyone who saw anything or has any information should contact police immediately.

“Residents are reminded to always ensure their properties are as secure as possible at all times.”

Hampshire Constabulary is running Operation Nemesis, a force wide burglary campaign, and offers the following advice: 

• Keep valuable items out of view – if you have electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds, don’t keep it by the window where passers-by can see it.
• Never leave a key under a doormat or on a string through the letterbox – it’s the first place any burglar will look.
• Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place – burglars will happily use your own garden equipment to break into your home.
• If you’ve taken extra security precautions, let would-be burglars know. If you have an alarm, make sure the box can be clearly seen. If you take part in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, display a sticker in your window, and if you have a dog, put up a warning sign.
• Hide financial documents and keys – if someone does break in you don’t want them to also steal from your bank account or take your car.
• Make sure you secure all your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even if you are ‘just popping out’.
• If you are in the garden or upstairs, make sure your downstairs doors are locked – in the summer burglars can often just open the front door and help themselves.
• Deadlock your doors with the key – don’t just lift up the handle. 
• Make use of all door and window locks fitted in your home.
• Consider getting a letter box deflector.
• Keep house keys upstairs or store them near the door out of sight for easy access in an emergency.
• Keep your car keys away from the front door and store them somewhere safe.
• Keep handbags out of sight.