15
May
2014
By Calvin at 12:00 GMT, 12 years ago
Police investigating three pub burglaries at villages in north Shropshire believe they are linked.
The Red Lion at Bomere Heath, the Railway Inn at Yorton and the White Lion Inn at Ash Magna, were all broken into during the early hours of Monday. Nothing was stolen from the Red Lion and a small amount of cash was taken from the other two.
Police Constable Chris Peel, the investigating officer, said: “We are appealing for witnesses who spotted suspicious activity in the vicinity of these pubs during the early hours of Monday.
“I am also seeking information concerning the identities of the offenders. Contact CID at Shrewsbury police station on 101.
“Details can also be given to the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 or via its website,www.crimestoppers-uk.org .”
TCPW Comment: Obviously I don’t know any of the precise details about these burglaries, but you’d think that they would all be protected with alarm systems.
I attended many pub burglaries during my time in the police, both as the reporting and investigating officer and as the Crime Prevention Officer visiting later in the day. The methods used by the burglars were often the same and the suspects had often been in the pub earlier checking things out and planning. So here’s a short locking up checklist for publicans, based on actual crimes that I dealt with.....In other words, one or several of the things I advise below were not done by the ‘lockerupper’ and a burglary resulted!
- Check that all windows and doors are closed and locked
- Make sure the alarm is actually set!
- Make sure the alarm control panel cannot be viewed by non-keyholders when turning the alarm on or off
- Make sure the toilets have been vacated and the windows locked; and lock the door from the bar to the toilets – a pair of mortice security bolts on each should help
- Check that none of the alarm detectors have been tampered with or covered with tape or things put in front of them, especially those overlooking the bar area and fruit machines
- Check that nobody is hanging around in the car park
- Empty the tills and leave them open and take charity boxes to a secure place
- If the bar has shutters please use them
- Keep stock behind the bar at sensible levels, especially the spirits, and make sure the stock room is well secured and alarmed
- If you’re at all suspicious about someone’s behaviour in the pub or they ask you odd questions relating to the management of the premises make a note of their description (surreptitiously), inform the police and carry out your security checks with extra care
- If your local police offer a visiting crime prevention advice service call them in, because there’s probably a lot more advice to be given
