BREAK-INS to four houses and three vehicles at the weekend have prompted police to call for residents to tighten their security with thieves active in the city.
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Canobolas Local Area Command crime manager Inspector Bruce Grassick said there is now a designated property investigation unit at Orange Police Station working on break and enter incidents.
“We are actively engaged in driving down this type of crime, and we want to try and avoid people becoming victims of crime,” Inspector Grassick said.
Inspector Grassick said with hot conditions expected all week people should not become complacent leaving windows and doors open, unless they have security screens.
“Thieves will always look for the entry where there is least resistance, and an unlocked door or window provides that opportunity,” he said.
He said vehicle owners should take everything out and leave nothing in view to tempt thieves.
“Take out all types of electronic devices such as iPads and laptops, also cash and any other valuables,” he said.
“When a potential thief looks in the window of a vehicle they should not be able to see anything of value.”
Inspector Grassick said despite the incidents at the weekend he is pleased with the results the special police unit has achieved.
“The trend has been particularly good as we are trending well below our break and enter target,” he said.
“We have arrested a number of people in relation to break and enters in the last few weeks.”
Homes in Dalton Street, Duncanson Drive, Anson Street, Burreburry Crescent, Cypress Street and Algona Crescent were all broken into at the weekend with thieves stealing a variety of contents.
At the house in Dalton Street thieves entered by an open front window. The lock was forced on the house in Duncanson Drive and the house in Cypress Street was broken into after the offenders removed a flyscreen.
In relation to the vehicles, police responded to the first report of thieves at 12.20am on Saturday morning where two males were seen tampering with a vehicle in Honeyman Drive, and then to a second incident in Elizabeth Street, where thieves had smashed the rear window of a vehicle and stolen a number of items.
At 12.20am on Sunday morning police responded to a call a male had broken into a vehicle in Gardiner Road.
Police conducted a successful search and found the man with stolen property.
Inspector Grassick said he appeals to members of the public who see anything suspicious to contact police immediately.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au