Burglary is now a police priority for Whitnash

Patrols will be stepped up and officers will carry out more crime prevention events after Whitnash Community Forum voted to add it to its police priorities last week.

There have been 11 burglaries in the town in the past three months compared to four in the same period last year, while most other types of crime have fallen or remained steady.

One couple at the meeting who said they had been burgled complained of seeing the same car repeatedly drive down their road.

Calling for more CCTV in Whitnash, they said they had reported the car to the police, but had heard nothing since.

Whitnash beat manager Pc Manjit Sidhu told the meeting there had been arrests relating to a burglary in Tachbrook Road and relating to a crime in which an elderly couple were tied up in their own home.

She added burglars often worked in teams, each targeting the same areas and using the same methods, which meant that once caught, burglaries fell and suspects could be charged with other burglaries.

Community support officer Steve Sample stressed Whitnash’s relatively low crime rate could make any increase seem large, and said some burglaries could have been prevented if householders had taken simple precautions.

He said: “People are still leaving doors open, they are still leaving windows open. If you give thieves the opportunity they will take it.”

Representing Warwick District Council, which runs the area’s CCTV service, environmental health officer Richard Hall offered to explore adding more cameras, but warned there was a high cost.

l Two men have appeared at Warwick Crown Court charged with a burglary in which an elderly Whitnash couple were tied up in their own home on November 25 last year. Levi Williams, 24, of Heera Close, Coventry, and Vanrick Riley, 25, of Deasey House, Willenhall, Coventry, were remanded in custody at Leamington Justice Centre last week.