Vehicle crime rise in Warminster and Westbury (From This Is Wiltshire)

Police records show a substantial increase in vehicle crime in the Warminster and Westbury area over the last year, and an increase in violence in Warminster.

Between September 2011 and August this year vehicle crime was up 94 per cent in Warminster and 65 per cent in Westbury compared with the previous 12 months, while violent crime in Warminster was up 61 per cent.

The increase has partly been blamed on late-night drinkers deliberately damaging vehicles on their way home, thefts of quad bikes and other vehicles and belongings snatched from parked cars.

Inspector Lindsey Winter said the increase in violence in Warminster was a worry, but residents should not be concerned for their safety as it is mainly in a domestic setting.

She said: “The data for Warminster shows a slight increases across most crime types, and whilst this could have been predicted due to the lengthy summer holidays the increase in reported violence is a worry.

“The majority of the reports relate to domestic violence offences, friends assaulting each other or neighbour disputes, as tempers have flared over the Summer.

“Offenders are invariably known, arrested and dealt with.
“Some are reports from youths assaulting youths and some are reports from local care establishments where residents assault each other.

“Domestic Abuse reports are encouraged and each one is treated with the importance it deserves.”

Westbury saw a decrease in reported incidents in all other crime categories, particularly domestic burglaries which were reduced by 40 per cent. Other reductions were in violent crime, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.
Warminster also saw less anti-social behaviour and domestic burglary, but saw an increase in criminal damage and arson incidents.

Detection rates were up for most reported crimes in Westbury, with a 13 per cent rise in domestic burglary detections, but down in Warminster, with only three per cent of domestic burglaries detected.