Residents are being urged to take precautions following a spate of shed break-ins.

People in Stevenage are being urged to secure their sheds and outhouses after a spate of break-ins in the town.

Over the weekend of January 3 -6, offenders broke into a communal shed area at a block of flats in Lonsdale Road. Five sheds were broken into, but nothing was taken.

Then overnight on Sunday January 5, an outhouse belonging to a flat in Archer Road was broken into and some empty iPad boxes taken.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Jim Moatt is asking residents to be on their guard: “If you see anyone behaving suspiciously around communal storage areas of flats, at the rear of properties or even on allotments, we would urge you to report it to us.

“Outhouses and sheds are often easy targets for thieves, so we are asking people to make them as secure as they possibly can. Security lighting is a good deterrent as are heavy duty padlocks or chub locks.”

Anyone with any information regarding the recent shed breaks is asked to contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101. If you witness a crime in progress always call 999.