Police urge residents to secure their sheds after a spate of thefts in Irvine.

Irvine police advise residents to take basic security steps, including installing locks and leaving the area lit up after a number of recent break-ins in the Girdle Toll area.

Updating the town’s community councillors last week, Community Safety Officer PC Colin Johnson said: “There have been a few shed thefts in Girdle Toll.

“A good bit of security advice is to keep a light on in the back garden, it sounds simple and counter-intuitive but bad people like shadows, they like being in the dark.

“As soon as there is a light on there is a chance of being seen, you never know who is up in the middle of the night.

“There is a horrible phrase in crime prevention where you don’t need to make your house a fortress you just need to make it more secure than next door - which is horrible as there is no sense of community but to some extent it’s true. If you can be seen to be slightly more security conscience you are less of a target.

“These people want in and out without really being noticed as quick as they can.”

Police can be contacted on 101. In an emergency always phone 999