Residents of Eastbourne who have garages and outbuildings are being encouraged to ensure their premises are well-secured to deter burglars. Authorities have noted an uptick in theft incidents, particularly targeting high-value bicycles stored in these structures throughout the area.
In response to several break-in reports at locations on Cliff Road and Pashley Road on February 10th and 11th, Police has apprehended a 20-year-old local man and a 14-year-old boy from Crowborough on charges of preparing to commit burglary. Both suspects have been granted conditional bail and are awaiting further proceedings until May 11th as the investigation proceeds.
Inspector Sarah Taylor, of the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We are acutely aware of the impact that this recent spate of thefts has had on our local community, and are continuing to work to tackle the issue.
“We encourage everyone to check that their garages and outbuildings are safe and secure, and report any suspicious activity to police, quoting Operation Dismount.”
Further tips to prevent theft include:
- Ensure outbuildings are locked securely with padlocks and consider an alarm.
- Consider installing CCTV.
- Cover high-value possessions with an old sheet or blanket to hide them from view.
- Consider moving high-value possessions to a safer location.
- Check garages and outbuildings regularly.
Anyone with relevant information is asked to report online or via 101 quoting Operation Dismount.
Officers are specifically appealing for any CCTV or ring doorbell footage of the Cliff Road and Pashley Road area between 10pm on 10 February and 6am on 11 February.
