Police warn residents to be extra vigilant and to lock doors following spate of burglaries

Police investigating a spate of burglaries and car-related crimes in Houghton-le-Spring have appealed to the public for information.
A white VW Amarok similar to this grey one has still not been found.A white VW Amarok similar to this grey one has still not been found.
A white VW Amarok similar to this grey one has still not been found.

On Saturday, June 29, police received six separate reports of burglaries or car crimes believed to have been committed between in the early hours of the morning.

Residents on Warden Grove, Bishops Wynd, Dunholm Close, Longlands Drive and Leeholme are among those who have come forward and reported incidents to police.

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It is claimed that an offender was trying front doors of houses in the area, as well as vehicles to see if any had been left open.

A white VW Amarok was taken from an address on Leeholme, which remains outstanding, and police are now keen for anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Constable Stu Havery, of Northumbria Police, said: “Over the weekend, we received a number of similar reports in the Houghton-le-Spring area claiming that an individual had been acting suspiciously and was trying the doors of properties and parked vehicles.

“One vehicle in particular was stolen from outside an address, and enquiries are ongoing to locate that car and pursue the perpetrators.

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“We are keen for residents to check their CCTV systems for anything suspicious between 1.30am and 4.30am on Saturday, and are especially keen to hear if any footage shows the vehicle in question.

“I would like to reassure residents that we take this type of crime incredibly seriously, and an experienced team of detectives are dedicated to tackling burglary offences, locating those responsible and bringing them to justice.

“Quite often, the incidents we do deal with involve doors not being locked and valuables being left on display. I would therefore encourage residents to take an extra moment to check their front doors and vehicles are locked.

“By working together, we can continue to make it difficult for opportunistic offenders to benefit.”

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Anyone with information regarding the recent incidents are asked to contact 101 quoting reference 331 290619 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, you can pass on information by emailing [email protected].