POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a spate of burglaries in Cheadle.
An Apple Mac computer was taken from a garden building at a property in Boundary, and a variety of power tools were taken from a barn at another property in the same area of Boundary in Cheadle.
Sergeant Jenny Overend, of the Staffordshire Moorlands Policing Team, said: “The first incident was reported to us on February 27 and the Apple computer was taken from a building in someone's garden.
“The building was broken into. Nothing else was taken.”
The next similar incident was reported to the police on February 28.
Sergeant Overend said: “A barn to the rear of a property in Boundary was broken into and a number of tools have been stolen.”
The stolen tools include: a strimmer, three Stihl chainsaws, a Stihl hedge cutter, a Dewalt 24 volt hammer drill, and a Bosch electric wood planer.
Sergeant Overend added: “These two incidents could be connected.
“I think people need to be aware that these sort of crimes are going on across the Staffordshire Moorlands. There have been quite a few sheds and outbuildings been broken into lately across the area.
"We would ask people to be more vigilant and also perhaps look into extra safety measures such as security lighting and/or shed alarms."
In a third incident, at 12 noon on Friday, February 22, a 1.5 ton JCB Digger and its trailer were reported stolen from the yard of premises in Cheadle Road, Forsbrook.
Cheadle Neighbourhood Watch has advised that this property backed onto fields which those of uncertain reputation find attractive for accessing the ‘goods’.
For those who have a property that backs onto fields be aware that they are vulnerable and try to take preventative measures i.e. lights, locks, barbed wire, berberis hedges and postcode all items. You can use pens or for a more permanent mark bicycle stamp kits etc. The police can give advice if needed.
People are asked to keep their eyes open and to be aware that these items may become available through car boot sales, ebay and agricultural sales.
Any witnesses to the above incidents are asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101.
Alternatively, they can contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
