CHIPPENHAM NEWS: DISTRACTION burglars and walk-in thieves have been told they have nowhere to hide, as police sent out extra officers into villages this week.

Burglars and conmen have been increasingly targeting rural homes in north Wiltshire. Walk-in handbag thieves have struck more than 30 times in the past 18 months.

Now Chippenham police are putting extra officers on the streets, sending out unmarked cars, stopping suspicious vehicles and dropping in on vulnerable residents.

The mission began on Tuesday and has been classed as a force priority to drive the burglars out of north Wiltshire.

Sgt Martin Alvis, of Chippenham police, said: "The kind of people we want to stop are the ones who travel into north Wiltshire and knock on people's doors asking to carry out roof repairs or gardening.

"When the homeowner is distracted an accomplice carries out the burglary.

"We want to reassure the public we are doing something about this.

"In the past seven or eight years crime has fallen but the fear of crime has risen. We want to reassure people they are living in a safe area."

Last month bogus builders escaped from police after attempting to charge an elderly woman thousands of pounds for dodgy roof work in Brook Street, Chippenham.

Walk-in burglars have been targeting rural homes, stealing handbags without detection, for almost two years.

Police will be scouring villages looking for suspicious vehicles, calling on residents in unmarked cars and carrying out high visibility patrols.

This week's police patrols have already yielded information from members of the public about suspicious vehicles and behaviour which have not previously been reported.

Police have combed Castle Combe, Grittleton, Kington Langley and Chippenham this week for burglars and to reassure public they fighting back.

North Wiltshire Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer Kate Turner said: "We are all concerned and members are aware of these burglaries and it is something we are working on together to reduce it.

"Neighbourhood Watch is all about looking out for each other and we do look after vulnerable sections of society and a lot of what we do is trying to tackle this sort of crime.

"We don't want to increase fear, we want to increase awareness and help people to protect themselves but are people worried about it? Of course they are.

"It reinforces Neighbourhood Watch principles of looking out for one another and we will get more results if more officers are around."