Appeal over balaclava wearing gang

Police have urged people to check on elderly family members or neighbours after a spate of reports of balaclava wearing burglars breaking into homes.

It follows an elderly person living on Fulney Road in Spalding having to chase them off after they broke a glass at the home on Monday, September 20.

The incident has been linked to seven others between Friday, September 17 and Friday, September 24 with Cambridgeshire Police saying officers believe the burglars described as ‘a group of three young, white men, all wearing balaclavas’ having targeting properties they thought were empty.

The local incident happened at 10.30pm.

The suspects fled the property after smashing a glass which led to the elderly occupant switching a light on.
Cambridgeshire Police are linking it with other offences in and around Peterborough and Deeping St James.

In five of the eight incidents the burglars were disturbed by the occupants who had gone to bed. Three of the homes targeted were unoccupied at the time, but in one incident an alarm was activated and the burglars were disturbed by the neighbours.

Inspector Olly Warsop, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: “While I understand this is unsettling for our communities, please be assured these offences are being actively investigated, however I would like to remind everyone of simple crime prevention measures which can be put in place.

“We believe this group is targeting properties where it appears no one is in, therefore taking steps to make your home look occupied by leaving a light on, parking a vehicle on the driveway or directly outside, or leaving a television or radio on are all measures which will act as a deterrent.

“While some of the victims have been elderly, we do not believe they are being specifically targeted, however I would urge people to check on elderly family members or neighbours and assist with putting these simple prevention measures in place.”

Any information about these incidents should be passed to police via the online webchat function at https://bit.ly/3vsiYDw or online forms at www.cambs.police.uk/report.

Anyone without internet access should call 101. You can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.