Police figures show rise in Warwick violence

The latest reports from Warwickshire Police show the figures for the final month of 2015, as well as a persistent issue of tool thefts from vans and shoplifting in the town centre.

More than double the number of violent incidents were reported in the Warwick Central ward last month, with 35 cases reported compared with 16 in December 2014.

A total of 43 incidents of anti-social behaviour were also investigated during December 2015, up on 29 reported for the same month a year earlier.

Warwick Central covers Chase Meadow, Emscote, Heathcote, The Forbes Estate, The Packmores, The Percy Estate, The Woodloes , Warwick Gates and the town centre.

Domestic burglaries across the area were also described as being “up a touch” in December, with eight incidents compared to six over the same month last year.

And officers are warning that with thefts from cars making up a significant number of crimes in the past few weeks, people need to be more aware to keep belongings safe.

Of 14 incidents of thefts, from cars and vans, police in the town said they are almost always a way for thieves to get at tools from work vehicles.

A police spokesperson said: “Thefts from motor vehicles fairly static this month, but a big portion of that number had been left in the car park of a local hotel chain.

“In every occasion they were commercial vans, and it was tools that were the target.”

Officers also said that shoplifting “continues to be an issue across Warwick” along with “drive-offs” from town petrol stations and bicycle theft which made up “nearly all of the theft jobs” reported during the month.