Dear residents of Dewsbury West, 

You may be aware that there has been an increase in Residential Burglaries where offenders appear to be targeting predominantly South Asian households where it is anticipated there may be gold and/or cash on the premises. This has been seen in areas across West Yorkshire and further afield, probably due to the rise in the value of gold. 

In Dewsbury the area affected most is Dewsbury West, predominantly Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury Moor. 

The key times of these offences appear to have been in the early evenings  - between 5pm and 7pm when it is dark but people are not at home.  It would appear this is moving later in line with sunset. 

The households targeted tend to be those in darkness with limited security. Mainly terraced and semi-detached houses. 

All reports of Residential Burglary made to West Yorkshire Police result in a visit from a Police Officer. Crime Scene Investigators will be booked for any forensic evidence to be obtained. Officers will conduct CCTV enquiries and speak to neighbours to identify potential witnesses. 

The Burglary investigations are then undertaken by the Kirklees District Crime Team within Kirklees CID. 

All reports of this nature in Dewsbury also generate a follow up visit from one of my PCSO’s. The PCSO’s give support to the victims and offer Crime Prevention advice. They also visit the neighbouring properties to try and prevent any further offences and identify any witnesses.  

Further to this – Over the last month I have implemented a further tier of contact for the victims of offences where gold/cash has been taken. This is in the form of a follow up telephone call from PCSO Kirstie DAWSON. PCSO Dawson has been collating patterns and information from those at addresses who have been targeted. We are using this information to assist in identifying potential offenders and measures to implement to prevent further offences. 

We were recently informed by one victim that they were aware of other households in the Ravensthorpe area who had been victims of Burglary but had not reported to Police. Due to this I have been creating a wider crime prevention plan to get messaging out around crime prevention and to encourage reporting.     

My Neighbourhood Teams have held Burglary Crime Prevention Contact Points in all areas of Dewsbury West and will continue to do so.  We advertise these on the West Yorkshire Police Social Media and on Community Alert. 

WYP Neighbourhood Watch Co-Ordinator Bev Fox will be invited to the Contact Points to encourage and assist local residents in creating Neighbourhood Watches in areas where these are not already in place. 

My Neighbourhood Teams will be encouraging and assisting residents in signing up to WYP’s Community Alert system where they can obtain crime prevention advice and regular updates. 

We have implemented and will continue targeted patrols at key times and locations in an attempt to apprehend offenders in the act.

My team will be liaising with local Mosques to raise awareness and give crime prevention advice around security and lighting and in particular use at times when it may be obvious people will not be at home. I am concerned that the key offending times identified will fall at the time when people will be attending Mosques and opening fast during Ramadan. 

I have liaised with Safer Kirklees who are going to assist us in disseminating the crime prevention information and to encourage reporting. 

I have been told this week that there are suggestions in the community that there are many more victims of Burglary who have not reported to Police.  I encourage all victims of crime to report. I hope the information I have provided to you in this letter reassures you that all offences of Burglary in Dewsbury are investigated.  However, we can only do this if we know about them. 

Please help us to keep the residents of Dewsbury and their property safe by informing us of crimes which have occurred and of any information you have about potential offenders or about suspicious incidents so that we can identify those committing these crimes and bring them to justice. 

A PACT (Police and Communities Together) Meeting will be held at the Greenwood Centre, Ravensthorpe from 1330 onwards on Friday 28th February 2025.  I will be attending this meeting with some of my staff to answer any concerns you have.  I have also invited our colleagues from Safer Kirklees and local elected members.  Please come along and see us.

Kind Regards

Liz Lockwood 

Inspector Liz Lockwood

Dewsbury Neighbourhood Teams

Kirklees District

 West Yorkshire Police