POWER tools have been stolen in a spate of burglaries from Newport sheds and outbuildings.
Police have received seven reports, with six relating to premises at Blackwater Road and one at Medina Avenue. 
Tools including chainsaws, strimmers and a circular saw were stolen in the burglaries, between June 26 and July 19.
In two of the cases, locks were cut but no items taken.
Police are keen to hear from anyone who has been offered second hand Stihl power tools for sale in the area.
In addition, two outbuildings at The Pitts and Church Road, Ventnor, and Station Avenue, Sandown, were broken into between June 15 and July 19. 
Power tools abd a cement mixer were stolen.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.
Police are investigating whether the thefts are linked, and have issued the following crime prevention advice.
 
General home and outbuilding security
· Keep the boundaries of your property well-maintained and secure to try to keep out unwanted visitors.
· Ensure all doors and windows are shut and locked when not in use.
· Ensure windows and door frames are in good repair.
· Fit adequate locks to sheds, garages and outbuildings and consider fitting shutters or grilles to windows, or blocking them completely.
· Fit good quality window locks.
· Consider fitting a monitored home intruder alarm.
· Check security equipment regularly to ensure it works properly.

Security lighting
· Install automatic security lights that come on at dusk and go off at dawn.
· Help make your property look occupied by fitting timer switches to lamps in different rooms and set them to come on at staggered times.
· Make sure the manufacturer's instructions are adhered to at all times when using electrical security devices.

CCTV and intruder alarms
·
· Consider installing an audible and monitored intruder alarm system.

Equipment security
· Leave vehicles out of sight when not in use.
·  Vehicles and plant equipment should be locked when left outside and the keys kept in your possession or in a locked key safe.
· Consider the use of hitch locks, wheel clamps or ground anchors. You may require a combination of the above to meet insurance requirements.

Security marking
· All property, including vehicles and tools, should be uniquely marked, photographed and details such as serial, chassis and model numbers recorded.

There are a number of methods for marking property effectively:
· Covertly - for example through use of Forensic DNA marker as liquid, gel or grease; UV pen; tracking or tagging technology; micro-marking.
· Overtly - by engraving/chemical etching; labels; postcoding or use of bar codes.