BUSINESS people and private residents across the Lithgow district are becoming increasingly concerned at the continuing spate of break ins.
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Thieves have been on a rampage with brazen attacks on a wide range of properties.
In some of the latest incidents the thieves have struck twice in a matter of days at business premises that back onto the railway corridor in the Lithgow CBD.
The thieves have gained access to the top of the railway cutting to break in through the rear of premises.
Access to this location is normally difficult but the access points have been used in recent times by railway workers at the cutting.
One shopkeeper who had been a victim in recent days has called for more vigilance.
“With police, private security patrols and shift workers going to and from workplaces at night and new security cameras popping up everywhere it’s remarkable that no one has reported anything suspicious,” she said.
Lack of night time illumination around many businesses has also assisted the thieves.
In one recent robbery at Wallerawang the thieves were so brazen they fed chicken to calm the family dog while removing screws to take a rear panel from a garage.
In another incident at the Vale of Clwydd they raided the same premises twice in as many nights.
The alarming spate of break-ins to local businesses continued over the long weekend with no less than five reported to police on Tuesday morning.
Thieves even targeted the Police Citizens Youth Club in Hoskins Avenue where a cash register was stolen.
CCTV footage will be checked with the hope the offender was caught on camera.
Not too far from that address a business in Main Street saw entry gained through a back door.
It is not yet known what items were stolen.
The industrial area of Donald Street was next on the hit list with a prominent business the target.
Entry was gained to the premises via a side window and some cash was stolen.
Still in the centre of town, a school in Mort Street was entered and two laptop computers were stolen.
It is not known how the thieves entered the premises however when police arrived all the class room windows were open.
Out of town was not left unscathed.
Offenders entered the Lithgow Golf Club through a front window.
Rooms were ransacked which made it hard for staff to note what items were missing.
Forensics officers have been attending each scene to establish possible identification of the offenders.
Police would like anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious movement that relates to any of the above incidents to call them on 6352 8399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
However any immediate suspicious activity should be notified as quickly as possible to Triple 0.
