Hampshire Constabulary

Police operation targets burglars in the Basingstoke Rural area

Press Releases

Published: 31/03/2010

Police have been carrying out an operation in rural Basingstoke to target burglars operating in the area.

Operation Chord was held on Wednesday, March 10, Tuesday, March 16 and Friday, March 26.

As part of the operation specialist departments from Hampshire Constabulary took to the roads in and around Tadley and Whitchurch to stop check suspicious vehicles.

More than 30 officers were involved in the operation each day and more than 230 vehicles were stopped and searched.

Basingstoke Rural Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector Paul Robertson, said: “This was a targeted operation against those people who think they can come into the rural area of Basingstoke and commit crime.

“Burglary can seriously affect the quality of life of a community and we take these incidents very seriously.

“The rural areas of Basingstoke are some of the safest areas to live in the country and crime is at its lowest rate in five years.

“However we have been targeted by criminals who break into sheds and garages primarily looking for tools and other easily movable items.

“We work closely with members of the public and we want to encourage people to come forward and contact us if they see any suspicious activity in their neighbourhood.

“Neighbourhood Watch and Country Watch schemes are in place throughout the area and for more information about these please contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods officer.

“Similar operations will be taking place throughout the coming months to target transient criminals in the area.”

To contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods officer call 101 or 0845 045 45 45 from outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.