THE COMING of the autumn and darker evenings has seen the run of burglaries resume in Ledbury, just as police predicted.

There were four burglaries in Ledbury between Tuesday September 8 and Thursday, September 17, and Herefordshire CID are not ruling out connections between some of the latest break-ins and the run of burglaries last autumn and winter.

Detective Constable Laurence James of Herefordshire CID said: "In some of the burglaries there are similarities to last winter's burglaries."

The latest incidents will be discussed at the next PACT meeting in the Market House, on October 19, from 7pm.

Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Annette Crowe said she will invite CID officers to attend, but she added: "Reassurance is difficult when this keeps happening. But questions can be asked about prevention, so people can stop it happening to them."

A file on a man arrested in Bristol last spring, in connection with a Ledbury burglary, at Pound Meadow, is currently being sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision.

Police at the time of the arrest warned people to remain on their guard.

Speaking last summer, DC James said: "As far as the burglaries resuming later in the year, this warning is based on previous burglaries recorded by police.

"This shows that Ledbury has shown an increase in house burglaries when the nights draw in so police would urge people to be vigilant."

Between September last year and February 2015, 20 linked raids were carried out on properties in Colwall and Ledbury.

In the latest run, a burglary took place on Tuesday September 8, between 1pm and 5.15pm.

The offenders gained access to the rear garden of a house at the top end of The Homend.

DC James said: "They possibly used a small bar or screwdriver and attempted to force open the rear UPVC French doors, causing considerable damage. Fortunately they did not manage to gain access and left empty handed."

Anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously between The Homend garage and train station at these times is asked to call the police on 101 quoting incident reference 0484S 080915.

The next recorded incident, on Tuesday September 15, was a distraction burglary.

Between 2.55pm and 3.10pm, at least three offenders went to a house in Ferndown Road. One man kept the female victim talking and her bank cards were taken.

Police have arrested three people in connection with this incident, which is not being connected with other house burglaries in Ledbury

Two men and a woman were set to appear before Hereford Magistrates on Thursday morning (September 24). One man is charged with burglary and a man and a woman are charged with fraud related offences.

The next burglary took place on Wednesday September 16, between 7.40pm and 9.50pm.

DC James said: "Offenders walked down the side of an address in Oaklands Drive to gain access to the rear garden. They damaged a rear door panel to gain access. Once inside they stole a quantity of jewellery. Anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area of Oaklands Drive are asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 0685S 160915.

The last recorded burglary in the recent run took place between Sunday September 13 and Thursday, September 17.

DC James said: "Between these dates offender gained access into a rear garden in Biddulph Way before attacking the rear bottom panel in the rear door. Being unsuccessful they smashed their way in to the address by inserting an object into the rear patio doors, causing the glass to shatter. Once inside they carried out an untidy search of the bedrooms and other rooms, stealing a quantity of jewellery, some cutlery and a brown coloured Gucci bag.

"Again, anyone who may have witnessed anyone acting suspiciously in the area of Biddulph Way are asked to call police on 101 quoting incident reference 0022S 210915."