Police are urging residents to be aware after four burglaries were reported in the Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton areas on the afternoon of Wednesday 7th June.

The first happened in the Kings Drive area of Stoke Gifford, between 12.30pm and 1.50pm, when police were called after a postal worker spotted that a window had been smashed. Officers attended and found that the window was smashed using a spade which did not belong to the household. A purse containing cash and cards was stolen.

The Filton burglary happened sometime between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Thieves used a plant pot to smash the patio door of a house near Shield Road Primary School in Northville. They stole cash, bank cards and a laptop. A witness has said they saw a man acting suspiciously in the area just after 3pm. This man was described as white, in his 30s, between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build with short, light-coloured hair. He was wearing a grey top, jeans and trainers

Police were called to the second incident in Stoke Gifford at 3pm – by a witness who checked after hearing a loud noise and saw a man making off from a house in Rock Lane. Officers found a window had been smashed but no entry gained. The man was described as being in his late 20s, about 5ft 10ins tall, of slim and athletic with black hair and wearing a white T-shirt.

During the same day, thieves gained entry to a house in Sherbourne Avenue, Bradley Stoke and stole cash and keys. The burglary was discovered when the householders came home. House-to-house enquiries found that a witness had seen a man in a neighbouring garden at about 3.30pm. This man was described as white, about 6ft tall, of slight, athletic build with short, light-coloured hair. He was wearing shorts and a white vest.

More: How to get in touch. Security advice for householders. »

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Local MP Jack Lopresti has met residents and Avon and Somerset Police Inspector Clive Summerill to discuss the high number of burglaries that have taken place in Bradley Stoke and surrounding areas in recent months.

The meeting was arranged after concern had been expressed that families who may own gold jewellery are being specifically targeted by organised gangs.

According to a report on Mr Lopresti’s website, Inspector Summerill was able to hear about some of the fears that residents have that their properties may be in danger of being burgled. He was able to give them some background to the form that the burglaries are taking, that organised groups are finding properties to burgle before a different group carries out the break-in. He was also able to let them know that the police have made some arrests, with some of those arrested currently on remand. Ideas on how to combat these crimes were discussed, and Inspector Summerill was able to give crime prevention advice to those present.

Mr Lopresti commented:

“I was very pleased to be able to bring the residents who have contacted me about these crimes together with the police.”

“These crimes are a concern to large numbers of my constituents and I hope that we were able to provide some reassurance that the police are doing all they can to combat the problem. I have written to the minister with responsibility for policing to ask him whether the National Crime Agency can become involved and for there to be a national strategy in place.”

More: Official statistics show burglary rate down in January »

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Well over 200 people attended a public meeting at Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke on Tuesday 24th January to share their concerns over a surge in burglaries in the area, and in particular the proportion of these incidents in which so-called ‘high value gold’ was stolen.

The meeting took place just days after properties in Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke; Bourton Close, Stoke Lodge; and Clyde Grove, Filton were targeted by ‘high value gold’ burglars within the space of just 30 minutes, in what police believe were linked incidents.

Statistics released by the Home Office show that there were 16 burglaries recorded in Bradley Stoke during November 2016 (the latest month for which data is available online). This is the highest in any month over the last six years (which is as far back as online data goes). In the 12-month period ending one year previously (December 2014 to November 2015), there was an average of 3.0 burglaries per month, a figure which has risen to 4.8 in the year to November 2016.

The latest surge easily exceeds the most recent peak of nine burglaries recorded in April 2016, which local police described at the time as a “spate”.

Latest figures disclosed

In response to enquiries from the Journal, Avon & Somerset Police have disclosed more up-to-date figures which show that there were 38 domestic burglaries in Bradley Stoke between the last week in June 2016 and 17th January (a period of around six-and-a-half months) and of these, 22 have involved thefts of ‘high value gold’.

The public meeting was organised by Bradley Stoke town councillor Tom Aditya who has close connections with many Asian families in the area, a section of the community which has been disproportionately affected by this type of crime.

More: Beware of cold callers. How are police responding? »

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A man arrested in Bradley Stoke last December has been jailed for four years for burglaries in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Simon Inker, 42, of no fixed abode, appeared before Bristol Crown Court on Thursday 26th January and admitted a burglary of a house in Fishponds in November 2016, in which a laptop and cash were stolen.

He also asked the court to take into consideration 12 other offences, including four counts of trespassing with intent to steal and eight burglaries in which cash, jewellery, watches, electrical items and a bike were stolen. These offences took place in Bradley Stoke, Brislington, Greenbank, St George and Stoke Gifford, during November and December 2016, with one in July 2016.

Inker was arrested on Tuesday 13th December 2016 in Bradley Stoke by local police officers who responded to a call, at 2.47pm, from a member of the public reporting seeing a man acting suspiciously in The Pastures. The police helicopter was brought in to search the area and, at 3pm, the helicopter team reported on Twitter that a burglary suspect had been “located and detained by officers”.

A reader comment on the Bradley Stoke Journal’s Facebook page said the arrest took place on Brook Way, near Christ the King Church. Another commenter added: “Seen him run from Hawkins crescent then jumped over wall into Jordan Walk when I was waiting for bus.”

The local beat team subsequently tweeted (at 3.56pm): “Sorry about all the police cars and sirens in Bradley Stoke. However male arrested for burglary. Now helping police with their enquiries!”

On 1st December 2016 (nearly two weeks prior to his arrest in Bradley Stoke), police had issued an appeal for information concerning the whereabouts of Inker, who it was said was “wanted on recall to prison after his licence was revoked”. The statement added: “He has a conviction for burglary”.

More: Police inspector promotes Neighbourhood Watch schemes »

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