High-value jewellery thefts in Chippenham and Corsham
Properties were targeted yesterday (30th April)
Police are investigating burglaries that both happened in Chippenham and Corsham yesterday (Wednesday 30th April), in which high values of jewellery were stolen.
A property on Box Hill, Corsham was broken into at some point between midday and 6.00pm with items of sentimental value taken from the bedroom following a messy search.
A further burglary in Nettleton near Chippenham was reported between 3.15 and 4.30pm on the same day.
In that incident, £40,000 worth of jewellery and watches were taken.
Detective Inspector Steve Edwards from Wiltshire Police said: "Burglary is a hugely impactful crime - not only in financial terms but also emotionally.
"We are keeping an open mind around these burglaries and are considering whether they are linked. On April 28th, £15,000 worth of jewellery was also stolen from a property in Swindon, which is also under police investigation.
"If you have information that could help with our enquiries please get in touch. We'd also urge people to make sure they are taking extra measures to keep their personal items secure. These items are often worth a lot of money but also hold huge sentimental value.
“If you have any information that could help with our enquiries, please contact us on 101 quoting reference number 54250051368 (Swindon), 54250052250 (Corsham) or 54250052284 (Chippenham).”
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Advice from police
There's been some crime safety tips issued by Wiltshire Police to prevent further incidents:
• close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes
• double-lock any door
• secure any entrances to private gardens and ensure that any items such as ladders are locked away
• make sure that any valuables are out of sight
• keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening
• in the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on
• if you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night
• set your burglar alarm
• make sure the side gate is locked
If you're going away on holiday, you might also want to consider the following:
• if you’re off on holiday and wish to post anything on social media, make sure your posts aren’t public and that they’re only seen by your friend.
• leave lights and a radio on a timer to make the property appear occupied
• get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property or join a Neighbourhood or resident Watch Scheme
• consider asking your neighbours to close curtains after dark and to park on your drive