THE West Lancashire Neighbourhood Policing Team are urging residents to review their security arrangement following a spate of shed and garage break-ins in the Digmoor area of Skelmersdale.

Posting on the force's social media site, a spokesperson for Skelmersdale Police commented: “Garages and sheds are often full of expensive tools to steal or use to break into the house. Do not leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house.”

And officers have issued the following crime prevention advice:

l Fit strong padlocks and hardware to shed and garage doors.

l Make sure that the doors are solid enough not to be kicked in.

l Fit locks or bars to windows.

l Lock ladders inside your garage or shed.

l Consider lockable steel boxes or anchor posts fitted to the floor to secure tools and equipment.

l Garden tools and machinery should be permanently marked with your postcode.

l Install a battery or mains-powered shed alarm, available from all good DIY stores at a reasonable price.

l For extra security, replace the screws in external hinges of your shed or garage side-door with 'clutch-head' screws (also known as 'anti-tamper' ).

l Secure your wheelie bin to stop an intruder using it to climb on.