Police warn Milton Keynes residents about locking doors after late night break-in

At around 1am on April 8, a man was spotted on Sullivan Crescent in Browns Wood was seen hurdling a fence breaking into a private garden.

The individual appeared to be considering breaking into a shed inside the back garden, but fled when confronted by the property owner.

He is described as a young male, no older than late teens, slim build, around five foot 10 inches tall and wearing a black jacket. He was believed to have been on his own.

Officers arrived on the scene within ten minutes, but the suspicious man was gone.

A spokesperson for the Thames Valley Police said: "Officers are urging residents to ensure that their sheds and outbuildings are securely locked.

"Officers are encouraging people to report any incidents of suspicious circumstances such as this but there are things that you can do to make your property less appealing to thieves. Ensure that you secure your sheds and outbuildings with padlocks where possible and cover any windows so that opportunists cannot see what is inside.

"Where possible make entry into your property as difficult as possible - don't leave bins or other items next to the boundary fences giving people an opportunity to climb over. Consider installing external lighting or sensor lights on your property as well as installing independent alarms on your sheds and outbuildings.

In all cases of crimes in progress, contact police on 999 who will respond as soon as possible. If you want any further advice regarding securing your property, check out our handy information guides on our website here or speak with our contact centre online or via 101.