Don't give them an early present say Wiltshire police (From This Is Wiltshire)

Don't give them an early present say Wiltshire police

9:17am Friday 18th December 2009

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Police are urging householders and business owners not to make a gift of their belongings to burglars who are preying on homes and businesses in West Wiltshire in the run-up to Christmas.

Trowbridge salon Hobbs Hair and Beauty was targetted on Monday by thieves who took gift packs of specialist shampoos and other stock likely to be snapped up by people looking for bargain presents, such as hair straighteners, cordless phones and CDS.

On Friday Bradford on Avon ski and surf shop Piha had £3,000 worth of stock stolen. Again potential Christmas presents such as sunglasses were picked out.

Burglars are also looking for easy pickings from people’s homes.

Scott Mulligan, 26, from Thames Crescent in Melksham, said his family home was broken into at 4am on December 15 as he and his parents slept upstairs.

He welcomed the new police warning and said he was lucky it was only his wallet taken, after the burglar was caught trying to roll his car off the drive and make off with their TV and cash.

“He got in through a window that was locked, but on the latch, and it was my dad that heard someone trying to move my car off the drive.

“I went downstairs and put my car back in the drive and noticed the TV had gone from the living room too.

“It was then that I found the burglar, who looked younger than me, going through a bag of our stuff outside the house.

“It was just one guy on his own and there were a few seconds where we just looked at each other. I managed to grab the bag off him as he ran off.”

Mr Mulligan, who is in training for a charity ice marathon next year, managed to save the TV, £305 he had raised in charity money so far and his mum’s wallet.

He said the police acted very quickly and were on the scene within minutes. As well as checking the house for fingerprints they showed him photos of potential suspects.

Inspector Dave Cullop is particularly worried about an increase in burglaries in Melksham.

He saidd there have been 81 burglaries in the town between April 1 and December 6, an average of just over two a week, with another deluge in the last few weeks as Christmas approaches.

He said: “They are going for things like handbags and purses, but there have also been some electrical goods stolen.

They are not looking for antiques or jewellery.

Tips for homeowners this Christmas include not leaving anything unlocked and keeping valuable items out of view.

People are also warned to be on their guard against buying goods from people in pubs and to report anything suspicious.

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