UK COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/High-tech-equipment-targeted-by-thieves-26042011.htm

Published: 26/04/2011 08:11 - Updated: 26/04/2011 10:53

High-tech equipment targeted by thieves

Raymond Brown

Police officer Greg Pritchard with a recovered laptop

Police are urging residents to protect their possessions against thieves after it was revealed an average of nearly nine laptops and computers are stolen every week in Cambridge.

The equipment, worth a total of £317,000, was stolen over the past year in the city.

 Figures released to the News reveal 463 laptops were stolen from April last year to last month, fuelling a plea by police for residents to use the

free property register website Immobilise.com.

The majority of the laptops were snatched by burglars from homes, but some were taken in robberies, lifted from vehicles, shops and businesses or stolen by employees.

Detectives are urging people to secure their homes over the holiday period.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Mead said: “While crime figures continue to fall, in particular dwelling burglary, historically holiday time can see an increase in crimes given the increase in people away on holiday.

“Laptops, jewellery and small electrical type devices such as iPods and mobile phones remain the items of choice as they appear to be easily sold on.

“I would urge people to take basic crime prevention steps to secure their property when they go away.

“Similarly, note down and record details of the items’ make, model and serial number as this will make it much easier for us to reunite property if it is located.

“Fundamentally, if we can’t prove an item is stolen then we cannot prove the case and therefore are unlikely to charge the offender and the victim does not get their property back.”

Detectives can instantly identify any suspected stolen property they find in raids or searches which are registered on the website.

That aids officers in charging and convicting criminals as well as returning the goods to their owners.

And in a two-pronged attack on thieves, police are also urging families to take up “defensive gardening”, by encouraging home owners to “plant prickly or thorny shrubs beside fences and walls to increase security”.

Property can be registered for free on the Immobilise websitewww.immobilise.com.