Express & Star

Staffordshire sees 2017 burglary spike

Burglaries have soared in parts of Staffordshire this year to the point where some areas of the county are seeing more than one break-in a day.

Published
Staffordshire Police.

On the back of the latest spree in Great Wyrley where six properties were hit in 48 hours, figures obtained by the Express & Star reveal the true scale of house raids in 2017.

South Staffordshire, which is mainly rural and made up of villages including Great Wyrley, has seen 289 burglaries in the first nine months of this year – equal to 272 days. That’s compared to 167 in the whole of 2016.

Stafford has seen a similar similar spike with 250 incidents reported in the period compared to 198 in total last year.

It is a similar story in Lichfield, including Burntwood, where the 201 break-ins between January 1 and September 31 are exactly equal to the total recorded in 2016.

In Cannock Chase, rates have remained static with 173 burglaries in the period compared to 228 in the whole of 2016.

Staffordshire Police has blamed increases on 'cross border' criminals from outside of the county.

A force spokesman said: "The increase on South Staffordshire this year correlates with offences including car key burglaries and is predominantly due to cross border offenders impacting on the county.

"This is a priority for the force and has resulted in significant arrests being made leading to a reduction in car key burglaries in recent weeks.

"We have had successful convictions for organised crime groups operating in South Staffordshire including five men from Wednesfield who were jailed for a total of 50 years for a series of robberies and burglaries and a group from Tamworth jailed last month for 12 years."

Residential burglaries in South Staffordshire peaked at 71 in August this year, although they have fallen slightly since then.

Commander for the area Inspector Richard Meaden said: "One of our priorities this summer has been to concentrate on reducing crime in particular residential burglary.

"Whilst Burglary rates remain low, we have seen a rise in offences across the local policing team.

"We have worked hard to reduce offences and disrupt criminals. A number of key offenders have been arrested and charged, which has reduced offences of burglary.

"We have a daily patrol strategy including overnight patrolling by officers and support from our colleagues from the Central Motorway Police Group."

August was also the peak month in Stafford where there were 48 incidents.

Chief Inspector Mark Joynson, for the borough, said: "Autumn is well on its way now and Stafford Local Policing Team still has an increase in burglary of other buildings sheds etc. so it’s a reminder to people to ensure as the dark nights draw closer to have a good quality lock on their out buildings to prevent them from being attacked."