Beat the burglar campaigns aims at tackling burglary in Cheltenham

A new ‘Beat the Burglar’ campaign has been launched by Gloucestershire Constabulary, the Gloucestershire Echo, Crimestoppers and Allcooper. [July 2011]

The three-month long initiative is aimed at reducing the number of burglaries in Cheltenham by deterring and apprehending offenders, as well as encouraging and helping people in the town to improve their home security.

Tackling burglary is a high priority

Cheltenham Local Policing Area lead, Superintendent Tony Godwin, said: “Burglary in Cheltenham has been highlighted as the number one priority for the Constabulary since earlier this year.

“Despite all our efforts, it still continues to be a prevalent problem for Cheltenham.

“We’re really pleased to have the Echo, Crimestoppers and Allcooper working with us on this campaign. Jointly we hope to have a real impact on tackling burglary, demonstrate to the burglars operating in the town that we are not going to let this situation continue and, above all, make the town a safer place to live.”

Let's drive down burglary in Cheltenham

Gloucestershire Crimestoppers Committee Member, Darren Stevens said: “Gloucestershire Crimestoppers is delighted to be playing its part in this high profile campaign to catch more burglars and drive down the number of burglaries in Cheltenham. In the past we have had some terrific support from the public in response to our campaigns and we very much hope that this will be the case again.”

Cheltenham burglary statistics

During 2010/11 there were, on average, 314 house burglaries every three months in Cheltenham. This compares to 143 in Gloucester, 65 in the Cotswolds, 58 in Stroud, 50 in Tewkesbury and 30 in the Forest of Dean.

The burglary rate in Cheltenham was 2.8 per 1,000 population, compared to 1.2 in Gloucester, 0.8 in the Cotswolds, 0.6 in Tewkesbury, 0.5 in Stroud, and 0.4 in the Forest.