Further Reduction in Burglary Numbers

The June stats on crime across the Chiltern policing area reveal that reported burglary numbers for the month were the lowest in some years.

This continues the slight year-on-year reduction in the full year to March 2020, reported at our May Forum meeting. Since then, there has been a 47% drop in burglaries in the period April to August, compared to the same period in 2019.

To an extent this does reflect the period of lockdown, with fewer empty properties as residents stay at home. But it also is due to a number of successful, targetted initiatives by Thames valley Police. For example, a recent cross-border operation with Hertfordshire (‘Greenbelt’/’Groundhog’) saw 20 arrests including known burglary offenders for multiple offences, including drugs supply, fraud, going equipped and driving-related offences.

Insp Richard Vine, who leads our Chiltern Neighbourhood Policing team, also credits the focus on Burglary consistently set by the Community Forum.

Prevention still needs to be the focus

The lower reported burglary numbers are good news, but every burglary is a distressing event for those affected. Also, whilst detection rates have also risen in recent months, the most recent figure is just 11%. The message from this is clearly that prevention remains the best cure. Below are a number of links to pages with relevant information.

Chiltern Community Forum: Burglaries

Thames Valley Police: Crime Prevention Advice

Thames Valley Police: Home Security Guide

Thames Valley Police: Residential Burglary advice

Buckinghamshire Council: Crime Prevention