Detectives are renewing an appeal for information after a burglary at a house in Whitwell near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.
A black Chanel lambskin quilted handbag valued at £1,700 was reported stolen. The bag contained a white envelope with £200 cash inside and a black iPhone.
The burglary took place sometime between 2pm and 6pm on Monday, March 21, 2011 at a house in Kingates Lane in Whitwell.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Vici Hayward said: “Officers are continuing to pursue several lines of enquiry after appeals for information within the local community over the past few weeks. We remain keen to hear from any witnesses who might remember seeing anybody acting suspiciously in Whitwell on Monday, March 21 or people who have information about the whereabouts of a bag, matching the description in this appeal, which they suspect could be stolen.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Vici Hayward of Isle of Wight CID at Newport Police Station by phoning 101 or emailing iow.cid@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call the police on 0845 045 45 45. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Police would also like to take this opportunity to remind residents of the following crime prevention advice.
- Make sure you secure all your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even if you are ‘just popping out’.
- Always keep your doors locked even when you are in the house and especially when in the garden.
- Keep valuable items out of view – if you have electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds, don’t keep it by the window where passers-by can see it.
- Never leave a key under a doormat, or on a string through the letterbox – it’s the first place any burglar will look.
- Hide financial documents and keys – if someone does break in, you don’t want them to also steal from your bank account, or take your car.
- Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place – burglars will happily use your own garden equipment to break into your home.
- Use timer switches to switch on lights, radios and other appliances when you’re out or away.
- If you’ve taken extra security precautions, let would-be burglars know. If you have an alarm, make sure the box can be clearly seen.
- If you take part in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, display a sticker in your window. If you’re interested in joining Neighbourhood Watch, please contact your local police station by phoning 101 or go online
- If you have a dog, put up a warning sign.
- SmartWater: a non-hazardous liquid, which can be used to mark property, or as a spray to shower intruders when they enter premises protected by the system. Each batch has a unique ‘DNA-type’ forensic code, tying its use to a specific location or item of property. Once a suspect has been sprayed, the SmartWater will fluoresce brightly as offenders walk under ultraviolet lights when they’re brought into custody at police stations.
For more information, go to http://www.saferwight.org.uk/smartwater.aspx
Log onto www.hampshire.police.uk, and click on the ‘Safer Homes’ section for more information, or contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods teams by phoning 101 or 0845 045 45 45.
