POLICE have warned residents living in and around Langport to lock up their homes and sheds after reports of opportunist thefts.

A meeting with police this month established thefts from sheds and outbuildings in the Somerton area, which includes Curry Rivel, Langport and Fivehead, as current public priorities.

The news follows four thefts of jewellery from homes in Kingsdon, Curry Rivel, Long Sutton and Langport in one afternoon last month.

Sgt Christian Wells, of the neighbourhood police team, said: “We’ve been working hard setting up things like farm watch and neighbourhood watch.

“South Somerset is quite a rural area, and many sheds and outbuildings are hidden from view, making them an easy target.

“Thieves take farm machinery and scrap metal.

“We urge residents to lock unattended windows and doors even when they’re at home or in the garden.

“We don’t get many domestic thefts in rural areas, so to have four in one day last month is something we’ve given a lot of attention to.”

To report a crime, call the police on 101, and to report a theft in progress call 999.