Locking Out Burglars: Progress, Policing and Prevention
As your Police and Crime Commissioner, one of my highest priorities is ensuring that every resident across Dorset feels safe in their home and community. Burglary is a crime that strikes at the heart of that sense of security. Our recent annual survey confirmed this, identifying burglary as one of the top three crimes concerning Dorset residents. While Dorset remains one of the safest counties in the country, we know that even a single burglary can have a profound and lasting impact on victims, families, and neighbourhoods.
This week’s newsletter focuses on the work being done to prevent burglary, bring offenders to justice, and strengthen community resilience. From targeted policing operations and the introduction of Neighbourhood Crime Teams in both BCP and Dorset areas to practical steps you can take to protect your home, the force are committed to tackling this crime from every angle. In Dorset, residential burglaries are down 12.5% in 12 months to June 2025 when compared with the 12 months to June 2024 (ONS October 2025). Year to date, there is also currently a positive outcome rate of 13.2% for home burglaries, an increase of 6.2% compared to the same period last year (Statistic provided by Dorset Police). This means that not only are there less burglaries taking place but for the crimes that have happened there has been an increase in beneficial results for victims, communities, and the justice system. Overall, since I came into office there has been a 36% reduction in residential burglaries (statistic provided by Dorset Police).
I know there is still work to be done and I am pleased to introduce Detective Sergeant Went of the BCP Neighbourhood Crime Team who will explain more about the work being done to tackle burglary in Dorset.
I am the Detective Sergeant for the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Neighbourhood Policing Team. Our team is responsible for investigating all dwelling burglaries and serious acquisitive crime across BCP. Each day we review newly reported burglaries, assess any immediate lines of enquiry, and identify potential suspects. Because we hold all burglary-related information for the area, we are able to spot patterns and make connections — for example, a cluster of offences in a particular location or several incidents with a similar MO. We also work closely with analysts to track crime trends, such as a rise in high-value vehicle thefts, so that repeat offending can be identified quickly.
Another key part of our work is locating stolen property. We liaise regularly with resale shops and other businesses across BCP who may unknowingly handle stolen goods. Our relationship with them is very productive — they alert us if they see anything suspicious, and in return we share information that helps protect them and the wider community.
The team are pretty much subject-matter experts in burglary and acquisitive crime. They review every report, know who the prolific offenders are, and use this knowledge to secure strong results. In recent months we have had several notable successes, including taking repeat offenders off the streets. One case that stands out involved a man who targeted elderly victims, often in their 80s and 90s, by posing as a tradesman fixing leaks or pipes before entering their homes and stealing money. He did this multiple times and we were able to identify him and get him arrested and charged. He pleaded guilty and received a four-year sentence. In another case, we were able to link a man to a series of eight or nine burglaries through bank card evidence.
Burglary can have a deeply distressing impact on victims. Knowing that someone has entered your home and gone through your personal belongings can leave people feeling unsafe in a place they should feel most secure. I hope that seeing offenders held accountable provides some comfort and reassurance to those affected.
During December, homes often contain more valuable items, such as Christmas presents, and are more frequently left unoccupied as people visit family and friends. To protect your home, simple steps go a long way: ensure doors, windows and vehicles are locked. Many burglaries are opportunistic — we once had an offender caught on multiple doorbell cameras trying every front door along a street until she found one unlocked.
Security measures such as video doorbells, CCTV and light timers can be extremely effective, both for deterring offenders and helping us identify them. At this time of year, when evenings are darker, something as small as leaving a light on can make a property appear occupied. It is also useful to photograph valuable items, such as jewellery and watches, and keep a record of serial numbers. This greatly increases the chance of stolen goods being recovered and returned to their rightful owners.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Detective Sergeant Went for contributing to this newsletter and to both the Neighbourhood Crime Teams for their on-going work in tackling burglary. I hope this newsletter has demonstrated the commitment of Dorset Police to addressing burglary and supporting residents with practical prevention advice. You can find out more about how to keep your home safe from burglary in my burglary prevention leaflet here.
Together—with vigilance, partnership working, and by taking steps to keep our homes safe we can reduce opportunities for burglars and keep Dorset a place where people feel safe and supported.
David Sidwick
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner