Police warn of a rise in Eastbourne break-ins

Officers have seen a rise in burglaries in the Old Town and Hampden Park areas, with a number of bikes being stolen.

This comes only weeks after a number of bike shops were targeted by burglars who made off with thousands of pounds worth of stock.

Last week (January 14) two scooters worth £1,000 were stolen from a garage in Meadowlands Avenue, according to Sussex Police.

Police say information from the public resulted in the scooters being recovered the following day and two boys were arrested in connection with the incident.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of burglary other than dwelling, handling stolen goods and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and possession of cannabis.

They have both been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.

Members of the public are being urged to stay vigilant and to take steps to protect their property and to report any suspicious behaviour to police.

Inspector Sarah Taylor, of the Eastbourne neighbourhood policing team, said, “We have seen a recent rise in reports of shed break-ins and bicycle thefts in areas of Eastbourne, and we are actively investigating.

“We ask anyone who sees any suspicious behaviour, particularly in areas around sheds and garages, to report it to us. No matter how small you think the information may be, it could help us piece together a bigger picture of what is happening and find those responsible.

“We are particularly interested in any information relating to the whereabouts of these bicycles after they have been stolen. If anyone sees or is offered a bicycle or bicycle parts for sale in unusual or concerning circumstances, please get in touch with us.”

Police say there are a number of steps residents can take to protect their property:

- Register it. Get your bike security marked and registered at BikeRegister. Police say it’s a highly effective and visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught with a registered bike, the owner can be traced and they will be arrested.

- Record it. Remember to record details of your bike such as the frame number, this is normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in, the BikeRegister number plus any other distinguishing features and take a photo.

- Double-lock it. According to police, it can take thieves as little as few seconds to cut through some locks so use two good quality locks and make sure at least one is a D-lock - this includes when locking outdoors and inside a shed.

Sussex Police can be contacted online or by calling 101.

Information can also be passed on anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Bike shop thefts in Eastbourne