A SPATE of burglaries and ‘suspicious behaviour’ in Rubery over the past several days has led police to warn residents to be on their guard.

Householders and business have reported several break-ins, while police said other potential burglaries might have been thwarted by alert residents.

The spate began last weekend when an animal charity shop on New Road was broken into through the rear door (incident number 0098s 060120) at some point on Saturday (January 4), although nothing was reported stolen.

Then, in the very early hours of Monday, January 6, at around 12.30am, two men were seen acting suspiciously at the rear of a house in Callowbridge Road (incident number 0005s 060120), although no break-in was reported.

Police believe both men to be involved in local burglaries and issued a description of their clothing.

One was wearing a full-length black coat, a blue hood and blue jeans, while the other wore a blue coat with a logo and blue gloves. Both had their faces covered.

Three incidents were reported the following day, Tuesday, January 7, within just a few hundred metres of each other including an instance of three men behaving suspiciously in Madley Close (incident number 0297s 070120).

A resident reported the three men acting suspiciously outside a neighbour’s house at around 1.20pm and the trio made off in a Volkswagen Golf which was later found abandoned.

On the same day, there were burglaries on Clent Road (incident number 0326s 070120) at around 2pm and Waseley Road (incident number 0409s 070120) between 8.15am and 2pm.

In both instances, the intruders were said to have gained entry via a rear door and made an untidy search of the house before fleeing via the rear garden.

Finally, in the early hours of Thursday morning (January 9), at around 4.30am, a resident in Valley Farm was woken by their house alarm.

Upon going downstairs they found that their rear kitchen door was open and its lock had been snapped but the offenders had fled (incident number 0053s 090120).

A statement from Hagley and Rubery Safer Neighbourhood Police Team said: “Residents are urged to review the security of their house door locks, and in particular the rear doors, bearing mind the method of gaining entry in the burglaries given above.

“If you have any information on any of the above Incidents, please report it to the police on 101. Any information given will remain anonymous.

“Please remain vigilant in your neighbourhood, like the resident in Madley Close. Please report any suspicious circumstances, persons or vehicles to the police on 101.”