Warning after spate of thefts

Police have been setting up road blocks at key locations throughout East Dunbartonshire in the middle of the night as part of their operations to deter and catch thieves .

Properties across Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Lenzie and Bearsden have been hit.

Police have stepped up  patrols in the area and are urging residents to be extra  vigilant.

As well as targeting sheds and garages, thieves have been breaking in to homes in a bid to steal vehicles. Officers are advising residents not to leave their car keys visible.

Residents have also been posting warnings across  social media sites.

Community Facebook page Lenzie Stuff posted that  garden tools were stolen from a property in Elm Avenue and a trail bike targeted from a shed in Laurel Avenue overnight on Thursday.

While on public Facebook page Bearsden Community , Jennifer Clark posted: “Break-in just off Switchback earlier tonight (Sunday, April 24) and attempted car theft.

“Be vigilant for your neighbours. There are a lot of people targeting our area just now.”

On April 19, Lynn Williamson added: “Our neighbour in Henderland Road has just in the last hour (3pm in the afternoon) had two guys enter his house through an unlocked front door, lift his car and house keys and take his car.”

East Dunbartonshire  Police tweeted on Wednesday: “Numerous officers deployed across ED to detect and deter individuals  concerned in vehicle thefts.”

Community Inspector at Kirkintilloch police office, Gerry Corrigan, told the Herald on Monday: “We continue to regularly deploy plain clothes patrols across East Dunbartonshire to proactively look for suspicious  persons and known offenders and we have a specialist dedicated team to investigate housebreakings.

“We also establish road blocks at key locations in the middle of the night in order to detect offenders moving by vehicle.

“Housebreakings and  vehicle crime continue to be a high priority for us in terms of how we deploy our resources to deter, disrupt and detect  offenders.

“I’d like to ask the residents of East Dunbartonshire to  assist us in this by making sure their homes and outbuildings are secure and valuables, particularly car keys, out of sight.

“If you see anything suspicious please call Police Scotland on 101, or in an emergency, call us on 999.”