Jewellery stolen from elderly pair's bedrooms

Police have issued details of these incidents, and others, in the recent Coquetdale Community Message, which states that there were a total of nine crimes reported in the area from December 30 to January 31.

The bulletin also shows that Community Speed Watch volunteers caught nearly 60 drivers speeding in Swarland and West Thirston over the course of three separate checks in December.

As part of the update, police are urging people, especially elderly residents, to lock their doors and to be vigilant, after two pensioners had property stolen from their houses.

The first incident happened between December 3 and January 7 at Whitton View, Rothbury.

The elderly occupant discovered that items of jewellery were taken from her bedroom on the first floor. Other family occupants reported £100 in cash taken from the ground-floor lounge area.

The second occurred at a property on Rothbury High Street, between December 13 and December 25, when the elderly occupant discovered items of jewellery had been taken from her bedroom and a Waitrose box of chocolates stolen from the kitchen.

Inquiries are continuing into both incidents and police have urged the public to let them know about any elderly people in the community who are isolated or vulnerable, so that local Neighbourhood Officers can visit and reassure them.

Other incidents include details of an arson at Westerheugh caravan site. Between January 19 and January 21, a touring caravan was destroyed by fire while parkedthere. Inquiries are continuing.

Thieves stole several chainshaws and a hedge trimmer from a garage at Old Swarland some time between December 30 and January 1, while a Ford Focus was stolen from Thropton main street overnight on January 5.

The bulletin also contains details about the area’s Community Speed Watch scheme. On December 17, volunteers caught five speeding drivers out of 35 vehicles during a session at The Avenue/Park Road, Swarland.

On December 10, there were 35 speeding drivers from 150 vehicles counted at The Peth, West Thirston, and 19 offenders from 100 vehicles at the same spot seven days earlier. All three sessions were in the morning.