A spate of housebreaking in the West End has seen crimes doubling in the past few months with ‘clusters’ emerging in some areas.
Break-ins to homes, businesses, sheds and garages are being investigated by police who have identified a “sharp increase in housebreaking” in the ward over the winter.
During the darker months housebreaking often rises but, in a police report detailing incidents from November to January, officers record a spike of 13 crimes compared to six in the previous three months.
Homes were targeted four times since October, in Shaftesbury Road, Abbotsford Street, Blackness Road and Rosefield Street, with property stolen from three of them.
Two commercial premises were also targeted in Hyndford Street and Gemini Crescent.
The police report also states: “The most notable increase concerned the targeting of sheds/garages. During the previous period there were two crimes which has increased to seven.”
A house in Shaftesbury Road had suffered repeated break-in bids to a garage and shed, and around the same time a bike was stolen from a garage in Hyndford Street.
A further mini crimewave was recorded one night in November when bikes, children’s scooters and a toolbox were taken from Benvie Gardens, City Road and Pitfour Street.
Councillor Fraser Macpherson, who represents the West End, said this type of ‘mini crimewave’ was not uncommon and said residents should be aware of home security.
He said: “These sort of crimewaves are exactly that, they come in waves and are often caused by a small number of individuals. This sort of crime has seriously concerning effects on people. It is not nice to have your personal space at home or your car subject to criminal activity.
“It is important to reassure residents that the police take any theft whether from car or home or garden shed, extremely seriously.
“I think vigilance is key and a lot of this crime is opportunistic.”
Police have also noted that several taxis have been targeted across the city during the period, and in the West End in particular there were 12 incidents of vehicle crime.
Of these, four cars were stolen, one of which was an attempted theft.
The remaining eight crimes involved theft from vehicles.
Blackness Road was the location for two such vehicle crimes, as was Rosebery Street.
In Hillside Road entry was forced to vehicles twice, including a taxi with power tools, a sat-nav and a taxi radio being stolen.
Graeme Stephen, chairman of the Taxi Association Dundee, said taxi equipment would be worthless to anyone else.
Mr Stephen said: “I know there have been one or two taxi break-ins over the past couple of months and there was a wee while when there was a spate of them being broken into in the West End and Menzieshill area.
“Maybe they just see taxis as an easy target and think there’s money inside but drivers don’t leave money in their cars.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.