After a small spate of number plate thefts in the Gaydon & Lighthorne Heath area, Warwickshire Police are advising the public to make it harder for offenders to gain access to your plates.

Stolen number plates can hide the identity of a vehicle to avoid speeding fines which you may be asked to pay.

There was over 35,000 reports of stolen number plates made to the police in 2007.

On the 8th September 2009 Wellesbourne local policing team took part in a cross border operation targeting illegal immigrants within the local area.
The operation itself involved several different police forces and the UK borders agency.
A local business in Kineton was the target of the operation, from which a group of foreign nationals were working illegally.
The operation was a success, identifying suspects and collating information in relation to illegal employment. In addition an illegal vehicle was seized as part of the operation.

A burglar's favourite time to steal is any time from garden sheds and this is a good time to review your security. Offenders are stealing garden tools, lawnmowers, bicycles and fishing tackle. By taking fairly simple precautions, householders can drastically cut the chance of becoming a victim of such crime.

~Most sheds are inherently weak, so do not to store valuable items of property in them.
~Ideally, sheds and garages should be connected to the house alarm, but if this cannot be achieved, suitable battery operated alarms are available from the Police Station at a low cost.
~Always lock your shed.
~Fit a good quality padlock. Ensure the hasp is bolted through the shed and into a steel plate. Secure up-and-over garage doors with padlocks through the inside runners, or fit a padlock (with hasp and staple) to either side of the door.

Remember it is items that are easily carried off that are most popular with thieves who get into your shed. These ought to be locked away in a secure cabinet and marked with a house number and postcode. Consider having lockable steel boxes fitted to the floor to store your tools
Larger items can be shackled together with a bike chain or similar. Similarly high value items such as bicycles and lawn mowers should be shackled together, ideally to the fabric of the building or to a metal post cemented into the ground.
Research shows that thieves often take tools such as ladders and spades, from a garage or shed, to help them break into a house. Ladders ought to be secured to a secure fixture. A spade can be shackled to another larger item through its handle.

~Try to site your shed within view.
~Visibly mark all removable items with your postcode and house number. Or use ultra violet marker pens available free of charge from the Police Station for this purpose.
~Replace ordinary screws on outbuilding doors with non-return screws or coach bolts. Glue, smeared over the heads of screws, may stop the thief from unscrewing them.
~Make a note of make/model/serial number of tools and bicycles.
~Obscure the window of your shed/garage to prevent thieves seeing what you have inside.
~Consider joining your local Neighbourhood Watch (01926 415716)

Remember all stolen goods are sold on. There is a lucrative market for items such as these.

A man died when the car he was driving was involved in a collision in Snitterfield in the early hours of Monday October 5 2009

Police were called to Bearley Road, near to Stratford Oaks Golf Club, at about 00.15hrs where a Blue Ford Ka had left the road and collided with a tree and hedge on the opposite side of the carriageway.

The male driver suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Between 1000 & 1130hrs on 01/10/2009, unknown offender/s have gained entry to a insecure garage at a property in Church Hill, Warmington. Once inside the offender/s have stolen electrical gardening equipment. Inc 190 10/10/2009 Crime number S/09/12323

Between 27/09 & 04/10, unknown offender/s have entered the grounds of a property in Church St, Hampton Lucy and removed screws from hinges of a wooden shed, once inside offender/s have stolen a Specialized Sapphire ladies mountain bike Sliver in colour. Also taken a Black & Decker Strimmer. Inc 255 04/10/2009 Crime number: S/09/12451

Over the last few weeks a new operation has begun within the Wellesbourne area using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras.