Security tips after business burglaries

Security tips after business burglaries

Businesses in Cambridge are being urged to be vigilant and consider reviewing their security measures after a series of burglaries in the Chesterton area.

Police were called at about 2am on Friday (20 March) to reports the Post Office in Kings Hedges Road had been broken into. Officers found the front door damaged and about £7,000 stolen from the tills.

A 38-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested in relation to the burglary and has since been charged with the offence. His next hearing takes place at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on 30 April.

Two further break ins have also taken place in the area, prompting the vigilance plea from police.

Police were called at 4am on Saturday (21 March) to reports that the R I Tattoo Studio on Green End Road was broken into and items stolen worth £2,000.

The following day, at 3.10am on Sunday (22 March), an attempted break-in took place at a Barber’s Shop in Green End Lane. The front door was damaged but no entry was gained.

During the same incident entry was gained to the Mermaid Chinese Takeaway nearby, where a tip jar was stolen containing cash.

Police are treating the four incidents as linked, and advising businesses to consider the below key security tips:

Identify areas that may be vulnerable to forced entry and have them made more secure

Make sure any service doors are locked and secure when not in use

Make sure you have a monitored alarm and CCTV - and that both are fully operational. Ensure your CCTV provides facial recognition as well as good quality images and covers any vulnerable areas. 24-hour digital CCTV is also highly recommended

Make sure wheelie bins are stored away as these can be climbed on to gain access to the building, especially via the first floor

Make sure there is sufficient lighting around the premises, especially loading areas

Consider moving high-value goods away from display windows overnight

Doors and windows are particularly vulnerable – use security-rated products to make them more burglar-resistant

External shutters, although effective, may require planning approval. Use attack-resistant laminated glass in sturdy frames where possible. Alternatively, film can be applied to glass to make it more resilient

Try not to keep cash on the premises and always use a bolted-down safe with a time lock and anti-tamper sensors that trigger an alarm

Make sure stockrooms are locked and, where possible, keep stock out of sight

Smoke-generating devices that activate on unauthorised entry create a smokescreen and foil burglary. They're designed not to damage stock

Make sure your keys are not left on the premises and that only designated staff have access

More security tips and approved suppliers of alarms and CCTV can be found on the force’s dedicated web page.

Anyone with any information relating to the break-ins is urged to contact police online quoting crime reference 35/21032/26.

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Tara Cox
(Police, Communications Officer, Corporate Communications)