YORK residents are being asked to check their security after a spate of eight burglaries in the city.

North Yorkshire Police say incidents include:

  • At around 2.30pm on Wednesday, March 31 the victim in this burglary was in her garden on Hull Road when a thief sneaked into her home and took her handbag and purse before trying to use the cards at a nearby store. NYP Reference: 12210088904
  • Between 9pm on Thursday, April 1 and 9am on Friday, April 2 a ‘2 in 1’ burglary occurred on St Mary’s, Bootham when suspects entered a home and stole the car keys to an Audi A6 and Toyota Yaris before taking the two vehicles. Both were located shortly after abandoned on Garfield Terrace and Evelyn Crescent. Also taken in the burglary was a green Canyon mountain bicycle that was dumped and recovered on Marygate and also a wallet. Ref: 1221009012
  • At around 4.20pm on Friday, April 2, police received a report that a man was trying to pry open the back door of a house in Westminster Road. After realising that he had been spotted he fled down the side of the address towards Westminster Road, and then cycled towards Water Lane with the shovel still in hand. He is described as white, approx. 18 years-old, thin build with light brown tidy hair. He was wearing a facemask and the bike he was on is described as a road bike. Ref: 12210090404
  • In the early hours of Saturday, April 3, offenders entered a home on Harcourt Street in another ‘2 in 1’ burglary and removed a set of house keys, a silver iPhone 7, a PlayStation 4, a brown leather wallet. They also took the keys to a red Honda CBF125 motorcycle before taking the vehicle. At around 1pm later that day the motorbike was located at Pottery Lane by the flats and garages. Ref: 12210090804
  • Sometime between 6.17am and 7.42 am on Saturday, April 3, thieves got into a home on Orchard Gardens in another ‘2 in 1’ burglary and took the car keys to a VW Golf and a Jaguar parked outside before taking the Golf. Later that morning, the Golf was involved in a three-vehicle collision on Fossway but failed to stop and fled the scene. It was located at 10am abandoned on Somerset Road. Ref: 12210090702
  • At roughly 6.45am on Sunday, April 4, the victim was awoken to the sound of gravel being driven on outside her home on Garfield Terrace. Shortly after, she realised that her vehicle, a blue Vauxhall Mokka, was missing from the driveway. Further enquiries revealed that thieves had search through drawers in her living room and her black handbag, containing the Vauxhall’s car keys and a burgundy purse, had also been taken in the ‘2 in 1’ burglary. The car was located the next day abandoned on Byland Avenue, as was the handbag but he purse and car keys are still missing. A 26 year-old man was arrested and has been released on bail. Ref 12210091329
  • At around 3.30pm on Monday, April 5, a female entered the home of a 95-year-old man on Alwyne Drive and asked for £8 for her electric. After telling her he couldn’t hear her, the suspect went to get some paper to write down her request. She then rummaged through drawers, cabinets and cupboards in other rooms. Thankfully, it does not appear that she took anything. She is also believed to have been to another home on the same street but no entry was gained. She is described as white, 5ft 6 ins tall, aged between 50 and 60-years-old with mousey brown hair that she was wearing in a ponytail. She was wearing a light-coloured coat with a purple top underneath. Ref: 12210092167
  • Just after 4am on Tuesday, April 6 a homeowner disturbed an intruder in their home on Maythorn Road. The suspect was challenged and made off – it is not believed anything was stolen. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40-50 years of age, 5ft 6 or 7ins tall, overweight build, possibly bald and clean shaven, wearing a dirty blue surgical mask, a black woolly Kangol hat, a dark green/khaki waterproof bomber jacket, and light-coloured trousers. Ref: 12210092421

 

A police spokesman said: "We have reassured residents that enquiries are ongoing, and they are committed to catching those responsible and bringing them to justice.

"If you have any info, CCTV, dash-cam or doorbell camera footage that might help the investigations please get in touch with North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting the reference numbers above. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously via their website crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information

"Any burglary can be devastating for the victims – or, at the very least, cause huge inconvenience – so it’s important that residents do everything possible to stop burglars in their tracks."