Good Evening here is the latest crime update for the Blythe neighbourhood.

Blythe 17th – 25th March 2025

Burglaries

A burglary was reported on the 18th as having occurred on TILEHOUSE LANE TIDBURY GREEN between 3pm on Friday 14th and 6:45pm on Sunday 16th. Offenders had cut through a padlock on a wrought iron gate at the side of the property and then smashed the window on the back door. Once inside they have searched through the house and stolen a jewellery box and its contents.

Between 4:30pm and 4:40pm on Saturday 22nd a burglary occurred on LAKESIDE DRIVE MONKSPATH. 2 offenders have pulled up on a motorbike and 1 has gained access to the rear garden where he has then thrown a rock at the patio doors. Once inside he has searched the house and stolen an amount of cash in different currencies and 2 diamond rings. They have then left the scene.

Vehicle Crime

Between 5:10pm and 6:00pm on Tuesday 18th a grey Vauxhall VIVARO van was broken into on FARMHOUSE WAY MONKSPATH. Offenders gained access and stole a quantity of tools. The offenders were seen to leave in a grey/silver Ford FIESTA.

Between 8:00pm on Wednesday 19th and 07:30am on Thursday 20th a white VAUXHALL VIVARO van was broken into while on the PREMIER INN car park STRATFORD ROAD and a quantity of power tools were stolen.

At 03:07am on Friday 21st there was an attempted theft of a white HONDA CIVIV on THORNTON ROAD MONKSPATH. Offenders approached the vehicle and 1 was seen holding what appears to be a relay device and walking along the front of the house while another offender is seen pulling at the car door handle. The owner has been alerted over their mobile phone and has opened the front door making the offenders flee in a small white SEAT car.

Between 11:00pm on Thursday 20th and 07:15am on Friday 21st a locked and secure grey MITSUBISHI L200 was stolen from HAY LANE MONKSPATH. It is not known how entry was gained to the vehicle.

Between 5:00pm and 7:00pm on Sunday 23rd 3 offenders turned up on 2 mopeds and stole a locked and secure KSR MOTO 125 motorcycle from WILLOW DRIVE CHESWICK GREEN.

GOOD NEWS

Officers from Solihull and West Midlands Police Roads Policing Team carried out an operation on off road bikes resulting in 2 arrests and 4 off road bikes and a quad bike being seized.

CRIME PREVENTION

Don’t leave valuables inside vehicles. There has been a number of vans broken into on St ALPHEGE and BLYTHE where power tools and valuables have been taken from inside the vans.

Please check any garages that you own that aren’t attached to your house. These can be seen as an easy target as garages that are away from the houses aren’t overlooked. If you have anything valuable in them extra security measures would be a good idea. Lock bikes up that are inside and padlock tool boxes are 2 such measures. Good lighting can be a deterrent, one suggestion would be a dusk to dawn system so that you don’t even have to think about switching it on.

Remember, crime prevention is all about making it difficult for offenders to break in to your property or steal your vehicles. If they have to spend more time or make more noise than they want to they may give up and look elsewhere.

Always check you FOB HAS DONE ITS JOB and has locked your vehicle. Offenders are out there at night trying the handles looking for insecure vehicles. Use a steering lock or in the case of motor cycles a good quality disc brake lock or a heavy-duty chain.

Please consider anti-snap locks to all outside doors. Look for at least 3 stars and the Kitemark when purchasing them.

Put wheelie bins at the rear of your property away from gates and fences if you can. These can be used as a means to get over your fence and into your rear garden. 

If you have a side gate or a fence bordering your garden then think about something called PRIKA STRIP. This is strips of hard rubber spikes that can be run along flat surfaces such as gates, fences and roofs, anybody attempting to climb on or over will find it difficult to put their hands on the surface due to these spikes.

Please consider a good steering lock for your vehicles, and check that your vehicle is locked before you walk away from it.

Tamper proof screws for number plates are a good idea to protect number plates from being stolen.

Pickpockets and purse dippers are active in the town centre. Always make sure handbags are zipped up, never leave your handbag or purse unattended on a shopping trolley, pushchair or wheelchair. Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you when withdrawing cash. A simple tactic against this type of crime is to attach small bells to your purse so that they jingle when purses are being moved.

If you use a bike to get out and about think about the lock that you secure it with. A D lock is one such lock. Simple chains can be cut through in seconds.

Please take 5 mins to read about ways you can prevent burglary and vehicle theft

www.westmidlands.police.uk/search?q=Burglary

www.westmidlands.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/keeping-vehicles-safe/

Follow us on Twitter @stalphegewmp

Kind Regards,

Pcso 30496 A. Alton

St Alphege & Blythe NPT

Solihull Police Station