POLICE are warning residents to be vigilant with their gold jewellery following two burglary incidents in Yate.

Between 2.40pm and 3.45pm on Tuesday, March 14, burglars made an untidy search of a house in Longs Drive, where they were believed to be hunting for gold jewellery.

Thieves also broke into a house in Parnall Crescent at some time between Tuesday, March 21 and Wednesday, March 22. The family, who were away at the time, discovered that the burglars had made off with a quantity of gold jewellery.

The incidents follow a number of offences across the South West in which whole safes have been reported stolen from homes.

A team of specialist officers at Avon and Somerset police are dedicated to tackling the spate of burglaries, and have so far made a number of arrests.

Police recommend that people keep valuable gold jewellery with a secure storage company rather than at home. They also advise that cash should be kept in the bank.

Other advice includes:

  • locking up and setting an alarm at night as well as when you go out
  • never leaving keys in the back of the door or window, or in view from outside (for example: through the letter box)
  • taking photographs of your jewellery and other valuables
  • joining a Neighbourhood Watch
  • reporting any suspicious incidents straight away. Call 101 at any time, but if there’s a crime underway or the suspect is still in the area, always ring 999