Residents of Poundbury are on high alert after a spate of burglaries.

The latest break-in occurred on New Year’s Eve with handbags and wallets stolen from a home after the offender gained entry through an unsecured door.

It comes after a number of burglaries in recent weeks, including three over the Christmas period.

A laptop computer was stolen from a property in Highdown Avenue between 9am on Christmas Eve and 5am on Boxing Day and an untidy search of the premises was made.

A second burglary occurred at Aconbury Avenue between midnight and 8am on Boxing Day with the intruder again conducting an untidy search and making off with an iPod, mobile phones and a laptop computer.

Deputy Inspector at Dorchester Police Station Steve Foot added that there had also been a third burglary since Christmas, also in the Poundbury area and details of which were still emerging. Further break-ins occurred at two garages, the first at Pen-druffle Lane between 10am on Friday Dec-ember 21 and 11am the following morning and the second at Holmead Walk between 10.15pm on Christmas Day and 7am on Boxing Day. A rotary lawn mower was stolen from the Pendruffle Lane garage as well as some loose change left inside a car.

Deputy Inspector Foot said officers had been stepping up patrols in Poundbury as much as they can and had met with residents to issue crime prevention advice.

He said: “There is an emphasis really on all residents making sure their properties are secured, especially overnight and also if they just pop out for a few minutes in the day.

“It’s very important to make sure the property is secure at any time they leave the premises.” Deputy Inspector Foot added that residents also had a role to play by reporting any suspicious activity they see in the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 or speak to the local officers.

‘We won’t let you take our property’

CHAIRMAN of the Poundbury Residents’ Association Margaret Morrissey, pictured right, has warned burglars operating in Poundbury that local people will do all they can to help police catch them in the act.

Residents joined police to act as spotters in an operation before Christmas and Mrs Morrissey said they were planning to go back out on patrol soon.

She said: “The people in Poundbury are not the kind of people to sit back and let this happen.

“We will continue to have our own private way of dealing with this until such time as those people who decide they will come in and relieve us of our property are caught and locked up in prison.”

Mrs Morrissey added: “There is a huge community spirit and people are prepared to get up and do something about it.”

She also praised the work of Inspector Steve Marsh, of Dorchester Police, and his Safer Neighbourhood Team and the efforts they have been putting in to try and put a stop to the crime.

Mrs Morrissey said: “His team are being absolutely superb, we couldn’t be receiving more help and support from them in every way.”