Central burglary News

Cambridgeshire Police have provided tips on ways to make sure your Christmas holiday doesn't end in disaster:

Make the house look 'lived in'. Leave lights on a timer, especially in the hallway, and perhaps a radio too.

Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on the house. They could open and close curtains, and perhaps park their car in the drive.

If bins are due to be collected ask a neighbour to put them out and collect them again.

Ask for post to be fully pushed through the letterbox.

If the Christmas tree is visible through the window, make sure those lights are also on a timer.

Make sure presents and valuables are out of site.

Put heating on a timer so steam comes out of the flue. This can also prevent pipes bursting.

• UK
• Burglary
• Midlands

A third man has been charged in connection with a burglary in Leicestershire in which two people were shot by the householder.

Two men Joshua O'Gorman and Daniel Mansell were shot by homeowner Andy Ferrie with a legally-owned shot gun in September as they broke into the home in Melton Mowbray.

Mansell and O'Gorman were each jailed for four years at Leicester Crown Court after pleading guilty.

Police say a third man aged 31 has now been charged in connection with the burglary.

"The 31-year-old man will be appearing at Loughborough Magistrates' Court on January 9, 2013.

"A 23-year-old man remains on police bail pending further enquiries whilst a second arrested 31-year-old man has been released with no further action."

O'Gorman was shot in the face and Mansell was hit in his right hand during the burglary.

No legal action was taken against Mr and Mrs Ferrie.

• UK
• Melton Mowbray
• Burglary

An ex-burglar, who was released from prison in August after being sentenced to 15 months for his involvement in 33 burglaries targeted at students is now working with police to help students stay safe.

• UK
• West Midlands Police
• Students

West Midlands Police say the film they have made featuring an ex-burglar aimed at making students safer is "highly impactive".

Chris, a former burglar, who targeted students, was released from prison in August after being sentenced to 15 months for his involvement in 33 burglaries.

He's now working with the police to help keep students safe.

Together we wanted to get students thinking about how to keep their homes and belongings safe. The film is highly impactive.

• UK
• West Midlands Police
• Students

A former burglar has taken part in a video with West Midlands Police to help keep students safe.

The film is part of 'Letters of the Law', an initiative giving the public an insight into wider police work.

The ex-burglar, Chris, was released from prison in August having been sentenced to 15 months for his role in 33 burglaries in Selly Oak, an area where lots of students live in rented accommodation.

Chris openly admits that he never once thought of his victims.

Video courtesy of West Midlands Police via YouTube.

• UK
• West Midlands Police
• Students

A former burglar has joined forces with West Midlands Police to help keep students safe. In a hard hitting film, he speaks about his past offending and why he deliberately targeted student homes. It will be shown at local universities.

It is part of the force's effort to drive down burglary and will be shown at universities in Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.

• UK
• West Midlands Police
• Students

A 40-year-old man from Worksop has been jailed for six years after breaking into a family home and threatening them with a knife while demanding cash.

Darren Shackleton of Queen Street was one of two men who forced open the front door of a house in Worksop on 22nd June 2012.

The pair then threatened the couple inside, who had two young children upstairs, before fleeing with £250 cash.

The 37-year-old father chased the two men, Shakleton was arrested by an officer moments later.

He was convicted of aggravated burglary and sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court.

The other offender is still at large and police are asking anyone with information to contact them.

• UK
• Worksop
• Burglary

A gang of six men who carried out a series of burglaries by posing as police officers and other officials have been sentenced to a total of 36 years.

The men, who are all from the East Midlands, committed seven burglaries in Leicester, Nottingham, Kettering and Coalville.

The men conned their way into homes and businesses using fake police ID cards and bogus equipment.

The offences were committed between September 2009 and May 2010.

• UK
• Burglary
• Gang