COUNCILLORS at Droitwich Town Council received an update recently on police activity in the town.

Sergeant Sarah Kent who heads up the Droitwich Safer Neighbourhood Team informed them of the types of crimes currently causing problems in Droitwich, with an update on offenders recently arrested.

Sgt Kent informed the council that one of the main shoplifting offenders in the town had been caught and charged with 14 offences, and that they were currently in prison, a fact which correlated with a significant reduction in the number of shoplifting offences in Droitwich.

She also mentioned two incidents of attempted arson I Vines Park over the summer where children are thought to have set fire to what might have been an item of clothing on the old barge, which is sunk into the ground in the park.

Officers had stepped up their patrols in the area, and no further incidents had occurred.

She warned of a few shed break-ins around the town, and warned residents to be aware that thieves may notice them taking tools in and out of the shed as they wind up their gardening activity for the summer, warning them to keep sheds locked, and mark their gardening tools in case they are stolen.

A number of thefts from businesses in the town centre are thought to have been perpetrated by the same man, who is well-known to police, and he has been arrested and charged with four of the offences, currently awaiting trial.

Sgt Kent also warned people of an increase in house burglaries as the dark evenings get longer. Police are running a campaign to encourage people to light up their homes during the hours of 1 and6pm when the risk of house burglary is at its highest.

Lastly thefts from cars were mentioned and Sgt Kent said she believed all of the thefts so far had been from unlocked cars, urging people to secure their vehicles. An offender had been imprisoned for previous thefts in the town, but she believed he was committing further crimes.

She said: “He’s out now and they’ve started again. He’s on foot, we’re on foot or on bikes. It’s just a matter of chance, it’s predicting where he’s going to be next.”

To report a crime, or to find out more about how to securely mark property, call the police non-emergency number 101.