RESIDENTS will have the chance to find out what police are doing to tackle a huge spike in burglaries across north and east Swindon.

A series of public consultations have been arranged for the next few days in areas that have been targeted by vandals since the start of the year, with many making off with high-value items, cash and jewellery.

It is hoped that the consultations will encourage members of the local community to report anything suspicious or raise any concerns.

PC Rachel Barnett, from the North Swindon Community Policing Team, said: “The consultations are something we do already but because of the recent increase in burglaries. We have advertised it a bit better because we value what the public can tell us and any little bit of intel they have.

“I think by seeing an officer in person is great and it is much more reassuring to people.

“Any information that people have, as insignificant as you think it may be, could be vital to us in our efforts to find these offenders and protect the public.”

In the last three months, the force said it has responded to multiple dwelling burglaries in areas such as Highworth, Lydiard, Abbey Meads and Nythe.

But despite issuing crime prevention advice to residents, PC Barnett added the burglars continue to target specific items.

“Depending on the area, we have different pockets of what is stolen but there seems to be three that keep coming up like cash and jewellery. But now we have car thieves who break into houses to steal keys and make off with the vehicle. We then have our high value burglaries where electricals are taken.

“Although there has been a rise since the start of the year, in the last couple of weeks there has been a decrease and so we hope through these public consultations, people talk to us because they are becoming more vigilant to suspicious behaviour.

"We would rather go to a false alarm than walk into a family home that has been destroyed by burglars.”

Dates for consultations are:

Saturday: 10am-11am at Covingham Square

Saturday: 11:30am-12:30pm at Tadpole Village, outside Tadpole Primary School

Saturday: 1.30pm-2.15pm at Inglesham, outside The Forge

Saturday: 2.30pm-4pm at Greenbridge Retail Park

Friday, May 5: 11am-4pm at Asda, Orbital Centre

Monday, May 8: 1.30pm-3pm Cavendish Square, Park South.