Following the spate of vehicle break-ins which have been occurring in Welwyn Garden City, two people have been charged.

Michael Forbes, 36, of no fixed address, appeared at Hatfield Remand Court on Monday, April 24.

He had been charged with 12 counts of theft from motor vehicle, going equipped to steal, common assault and a section 4a Public Order offence.

Forbes pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody. His next court appearance will be on Wednesday, May 3.

Stacey Richardson, 35, of Knella Road, Welwyn Garden City, also appeared at Hatfield Remand Court on Monday.

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She pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and possession of class B drugs. The court imposed an £80 fine.

Inspector Amy Sheldon said: "I know there has been lots of concern locally among vehicle owners and I hope that this news provides some reassurance that we are doing everything we can to tackle the issue.

"I appreciate some residents have been frustrated but I would like to thank the public for their patience during what is a very complex investigation.

"Securing an arrest or charge is not always straightforward and can involve a lot of police work behind the scenes and so we thank you for bearing us with us whilst this is carried out."

The inspector added that concrete evidence linking the suspect to a crime is required to secure a charge and this is where CCTV becomes really important.

Amy added: "I would like to remind residents to please keep on sending in any CCTV that could be useful.

“Please be assured that we remain committed to tackling the issue of thefts from vehicles and our patrols are continuing.

“Unfortunately, we are finding that residents are still leaving handbags and other valuables in their vehicles. Please don’t be tempted to do this and make sure that you double check your vehicle for anything left behind.

“A full list of tips to secure your vehicle can be found on our website at www.herts.police.uk/crimeprevention.”

                                                                                                         

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You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, or speak to an operator on herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101.

In an emergency, or if a crime is ongoing, always call 999.

Alternatively, you can stay anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.