On Friday 12th December, Gwent Police

officers joined Monmouth MP David Davies in Osbaston to speak to residents about the spate of burglaries going on in the area.

Mr Davies was outside Osbaston CIW School with Chief Inspector Mick Moyles, Head of Neighbourhood Policing in Monmouth, along with Detective Inspector Andrew Tuck, who leads the investigation, and PC Steve Lane. They were meeting residents picking up children at the end of the school day, talking through their concerns and handing out a letter from Mr Davies.

The letter says: "The recent spate of burglaries taking place in the Osbaston area is a matter of great concern.

"I am holding regular discussions with the police about this and I'm aware of certain measures being put in place, which I have been asked not to disclose."

Mr Davies continues: "It would appear these burglaries are the handiwork of professional criminals.

"They are carefully targeting houses in which the owners are out, either for the evening or on holiday – which suggests to me that they are knocking on doors first to ensure properties are empty.

"The likelihood is they will have knocked on other doors in the same street too."

"I would therefore urge you to make a careful note and description of any unusual or unexplained callers to your home."

The police support that advice and Ch. Insp Moyles added: "We just need that vital phone call to say they're here.

"We've got a dedicated police presence now just for the ward, so at least if that call comes in on 999 we can respond."

Ch. Insp Moyles also spoke about the focusing of resources on Osbaston, saying: "One weekend we had fourteen Community Support Officers, just in this ward. Everything from a local perspective I can throw at it I am. The force is throwing everything at Osbaston too."

DI Tuck explained to residents exactly what those resources are, with Automatic Numberplate Recognition cameras (ANPR) situated on roads to build up a profile of who is driving during high risk times. The majority of the seventeen burglaries that have taken place in Osbaston have happened in the evening, around dusk, and during a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Police are also ensuring a more visible presence in the area to try and discourage the thieves and are making sure the force's high-speed drivers are requisitioned to Osbaston when possible. This not only means police drivers that are trained to chase at speed are more readily available should a 999 call come in, but their vehicles also carry the expensive ANPR cameras fitted to their cars.

To help combat the spate of thefts that have been going on since June, barring a break around September, police are due to deliver a leaflet to Osbaston addresses, giving advice on how to minimise the risk of being burgled.

This includes tips such as leaving on a light or two about the house, and a radio or TV if possible to make it look as though someone is home.

One resident told the officers about the changes they have made to their security, saying that they had now started locking their doors, even when popping next door to see their family for a minute or two.

The police also have a confidential list for those going away on holiday. Officers know then that the vulnerable house can be monitored closely.

Osbaston residents are also trying to put off the thieves by petitioning Monmouthshire County Council to turn street lights back on. Currently, due to cost and energy saving measures, those street lights that aren't on crucial routes through the area are turned off after a certain time.

A number of residents are worried that this makes the area darker and only aids the burglars with their task. An online petition has been started, which currently has 250 signatures, asking for these to be switched back on. You can find the petition at http://www.change.org/p/monmouth-county-council-turn-the-street-lights-back-on">www.change.org/p/monmouth-county-council-turn-the-street-lights-back-on

Mr Davies and the police's presence met with a mixture of opinions on the afternoon, though they were largely positive, praising Mr Davies for his pro-active stance and thankful that the police were able to discuss problems face-to-face.

The officers had a number of questions put to them both from residents who were concerned about the burglaries and from those who had been victims.

In recent months Gwent Police has started a new scheme in which victims are updated monthly until told that the case has progressed as far as it can. Ch. Insp Moyles picks a handful of case numbers at random each week too and calls those concerned to check that they are being kept up to date.

After the school run had petered off, Mr Davies and Ch. Insp Moyles went round a number of houses in Osbaston to continue the question and answer session.

If anyone has information on any of the burglaries, they are encouraged to call 101, unless they suspect the crime is taking place at the time, in which case 999 should be dialled.