AVON & SOMERSET POLICE DEFEND THEFT FIGURES
Despite a weekend of theft reported by Yeovil residents Avon & Somerset Police have defended the rise in crime statistics which are up 11|%
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Burglary is a serious crime and can leave victims feeling vulnerable and unsafe in their own home. We recognise the significant impact these incidents can have and that is one reason why house burglaries in progress are treated as requiring immediate police attendance.
“Over the past couple of months, we estimated we're attending around 85-90 per cent of reported residential burglaries, to ensure victims feel safe in their own home and to identify potential evidential opportunities.
"We also have a dedicated team who specialise in identifying and investigating burglary series to allow us to robustly deal with prolific offenders.
"These new crime figures promisingly show burglary rates across Avon and Somerset have reduced. While they show a rise in Somerset year-on-year, people should be reassured those statistics reveal it remains one of the lowest areas proportionally for burglaries across the country, with the national average being more than twice as high.
"Many burglaries are committed by opportunist thieves, so we encourage the public to consider how they can make their properties more secure. There are several crime prevention tools available to make homes, garages and sheds more secure.
"People can consider installing CCTV, doorbell cameras and internal cameras to capture and deter any would-be criminals, make sure all doors and windows are securely locked, and hiding away anything valuable such as jewellery, cash, car keys and electronics. Another step is to have valuable items marked to aid in returning them if they are recovered.
"If you have been away from your home to discover it has been broken into, do not enter your home. Call us straight away as there may be forensic evidence at the scene which could aid in our enquiries.
"If a crime is in progress or you are in danger, please call 999. Alternatively, crimes can be reported online or on 101."