WEST Mercia Police are appealing for information following a series of burglaries in Wem and Whitchurch.

Between 10pm on Friday, February 14 and 10.30am on Saturday, February 15, a garage and van at a house in Lowe Hill Road, Wem, were attacked.

A chainsaw was among items taken from the van, and an unsuccessful attempt was also made to steal a motor bike. Incident number 0452s 150220.

Also overnight on the same evening, garden sheds at two houses in Bailey Close, Wem, were raided.

Powered gardening tools including a Stihl strimmer, hedge trimmer with attachments, and two combi engines were taken from one of the properties – incident number 0148s 150220 – and six valuable velodrome, mountain and racing bikes, plus accessories were stolen from a neighbouring property. Incident number 0185s 150220.

Again on the same evening, possibly around 5am when dogs were woken, a garden shed in Somerset Way, Wem, was broken open, but no thefts were reported. Incident number 0166s 150220.

And in Broughall, Whitchurch, between February 5 and February 15, a shed was broken into.

Several tools were taken including: a nail gun, several saws and drills, which were all marked with 'SJ' on the tool body. Incident number 0149 s 150220.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "We have increased patrols within rural communities at this time.

"In the meantime please consider improving your garden security with dusk to dawn lighting, shed alarms, curtains or screens over shed windows and adding padlocks to your shed doors.

"Display a sign warning the shed is alarmed.

"Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact West Mercia Police on 101, quoting the relevant incident numbers above.

"Security advice and tips can be found on the West Mercia Police website."

Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org

More detailed crime prevention can found on the West Mercia Police website at www.westmercia.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/non-residential-burglary