A SHED was broken into in Shatterford and a pressure washer worth £600 stolen.

The shed was broken into between 3pm yesterday and 8am today.

The screws had been forced from the door and lock and a white Kranzle pressure washer stolen.

PC Steve Yapp, of the Bewdley local policing team, said power tools, mowers, garden tools, mountain bikes and golf clubs were among expensive items left in sheds which were not always adequately secured.

He said: “It is best not to leave valuable equipment in sheds, but if there is nowhere else to store it, there are measures residents can take to improve security.

“For example they can fit a closed shackle padlock to the door. Fittings should be bolted through the door and any screws concealed.

“Other advice includes fitting grilles or mesh to the windows, investing in an alarm, and marking garden tools and equipment with the postcode.

“Gardens can be made more secure by ensuring fences are too high to climb over, and planting prickly shrubs and bushes close to fences and boundary walls.”

West Mercia’s Nip Garden Crime in the Bud leaflet, which gives more information on how to prevent shed burglaries, can be downloaded from the force website at westmercia.police.uk, along with a STOP All Values Have Been Removed poster, which can be placed in shed or greenhouse windows.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the Shatterford burglary should contact PC Yapp on 0300 333 3000 quoting incident 184-s-040311 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.