Police are reminding home owners and businesses in the West Wight to take sensible security precautions to prevent burglaries and theft.
Officers are particularly concerned following a rise in reports of fuel stolen from rural and remote locations, which may soon not only effect the West Wight area.
Approximately 2,000 litres of kerosene was reported stolen from a heating tank outside a house in Wellow, Isle of Wight sometime between 10.30pm on Thursday, March 10, 2011 and 5am on Friday, March 11, 2011.
On a separate occasion, approximately 500 litres of heating oil was reported stolen from an address on the outskirts of Brighstone, Isle of Wight sometime between November 15, 2010 and December 24, 2010.
Sergeant Mark Lyth of the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team said: “We have growing concerns about these recent reports, particularly at a time of rising fuel costs and financial uncertainty for some people. Police will pursue forensic lines of enquiry or information from the community about suspected thieves trying to fill up with free fuel at the expense of others.
“Officers are making reassurance visits to remind residents and businesses who store fuel on their premises to check and increase security wherever possible. We appreciate that extra security can cost money, but precautions such as lockable fuel caps and parking vehicles in a locked garage or outbuilding can help deter thieves.”
For more security advice, go online to Hampshire Constabulary’s website:
http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/news/campaigns/saferhomes.htm
The West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team also runs the Isle of Wight Country Watch project, which is the rural equivalent of Neighbourhood Watch. For more information, go online to: http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/rural/Isle+of+Wight+OCU.htm
Sergeant Lyth added: “Country Watch’s purpose is to encompass all rural and remote communities on the island to encourage a greater exchange of information, which can stop and solve crimes swiftly and effectively. For example, descriptions of people and vehicles involved in suspicious behaviour.”
Information can be shared with the police through a dedicated email address [email protected]. This email is in addition to the police’s main non-emergency phone numbers 101 and 0845 045 45 45. In a life threatening emergency, always dial 999. If people wish to remain anonymous, phone the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
