Garden shed burglaries prompt increase in police patrols

13:12:20 17th December 2010

A spate of garden shed burglaries has prompted police in Barnsley to increase their patrols in the Dearne area of the South Yorkshire town.

Officers from Dearne Safer Neighbourhood Team took to the streets following a number of late-night break-ins, the Star reports.

Inspector Alan Simpson of Dearne Safer Neighbourhood Team said that most of the burglaries had taken place after midnight.

"The presence of officer patrols caused break-ins to virtually cease and residents felt safer knowing concerns had been answered," he told the newspaper.

"We urge people to review their shed security," Mr Simpson concluded.

One of the newspaper's readers commented that they would like to see a burglar break into their garden shed, as their Doberman lives in it.

Paul Francis, crime prevention officer at Gloucestershire Constabulary, recently said that people should fit metal grills to the windows of their sheds as well as reinforced hinges, good locks and an alarm.