BURGLARS are targeting affluent village homes, stealing jewellery in the highest spate of break-ins in the community in years.
Over the past three months burglars have attempted to break into nine homes across Farndon, forcing windows and doors.
The daytime burglaries, which have seen thieves steal hundreds of pounds worth of jewellery and cash, including a valuable engagement ring, are thought to be the work of one or two thieves who live in the local area.
Police have stepped up patrols in the village after thieves targeted a bungalow in Dee Crescent, off River Lane, on Monday (January 14), forcing a bedroom window before searching rooms and stealing valuable jewellery.
And on Wednesday, January 9, police were called to a home on Church Lane after reports of a similar break-in.
With most of the burglaries occurring between noon-8pm while owners are at work, police believe the thieves are using the bad weather, misty conditions and fading light to sneak into homes without being spotted.
Detective Sergeant Chris Williams, from Chester CID, said the spate of burglaries was ‘unusually high’ for the area, with three break-ins or attempted break-ins in the village being reported every month since November.
“Farndon is a nice area, burglaries are never really a problem here, until recently there had not been any in the village for a long time,” said DS Williams, who said villagers should not be alarmed by the crimes but should be more wary of strangers hanging around.
“We suspect these crimes were committed by inexperienced thieves, not professionals, as six of the incidents were attempted break-ins with the offenders damaging windows and doors before being scared off by alarms.”
Police are currently investigating the burglaries and have stepped up patrols around the village in the hope of deterring potential criminals.
“We do not want people to panic, there has not been any violence in any of the incidents,” said DS Williams.
“We will catch these criminals, but if anyone in the village sees someone who does not fit in or is acting suspiciously I would ask them to alert the police immediately,” said DS Williams.
Meanwhile, police are appealing for information after a thief stole dozens of iPad Minis from a van on Church Street in Kelsall in the run up to Christmas.
Between 10-10.20am on Thursday, December 10, the driver was making a delivery when his van was stolen. Empty packages were later discovered on Rode Street but the van has never been recovered.
Police are now asking anyone who may have been asked to buy an iPad or seen anything suspicious at the time of the theft to come forwards.
Anyone who has any information about the crimes is urged to contact Cheshire police on 101 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
