18 Nov 2020
- A man in his twenties was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of a number of distraction burglaries in Houghton Regis.
The man who is from Houghton Regis, currently remains in custody for questioning.
Detective Constable Jason Wheeler, from the force’s dedicated burglary team, Operation Maze, said, “The man was arrested following a short pursuit and the good work of our Central Tasking Team officers, who utilised drone footage to help them locate him.
“At this time of year, with darker nights setting in, we tend to see an increase in burglaries across the county, so tackling these crimes is a key focus for us.
“Opportunist thieves, in the run-up to Christmas, will target homes in the hope of finding items of value, or they will look to target vulnerable and elderly people.
“Whilst we have a dedicated team working towards preventing burglaries and finding those responsible, we need your help in spreading awareness and sharing some of the steps that can be taken as preventative measures.
“Please talk to your elderly and vulnerable neighbours and relatives, and tell them about the importance of double-locking doors and windows, keeping valuable items out of sights, and ensuring they take precautions when answering the door to someone they don’t know.
“If you have fallen victim to a burglary, or distraction burglary, then please make sure you report it to us.”
To find out more burglary prevention advice, visit this police website.
If you would like to report anything, please use our online reporting tool or call 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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on the 16th Police put out an appeal:
At 8pm on Wednesday (11 November), a man knocked on the door of a property in Whitehouse Close, under the pretence he was a police officer responding to a call in the area.
The victim allowed the man into the property where he continued speaking to her, however once he left she realised that whilst inside he has taken her handbag and purse, as well as the front and back door keys.
The man was described as white, slim and around 5’4’’. He was believed to be wearing a black jacket, black trousers, shoes and a black cap, and was seen leaving the scene in a white van.
PC Craig Cullum, part of Operation Maze, the forces dedicated burglary unit, said: “We would like to speak to anyone who may have been contacted in a similar way, or who was in the area and noticed anyone matching the description.
“Police officers will always have identification, so if someone is knocking on your door, please do not be afraid to question them and ask to see proof of who they are.
“We are supporting the victim but understandably this has left her shaken. This type of crime has no place in Bedfordshire and we will work towards catching those responsible.
“In a time where many people are isolated and vulnerable at home during the Coronavirus pandemic, please take some time to talk to elderly and vulnerable neighbours as they may not be aware of how to spot the signs of a distraction burglary.”
