COUNCILLORS have spoken out after residents raised their fears over claims of a spate of burglaries.
There have been reports of breaks-ins across Holywell over the last two weeks as well as in nearby Carmel and Greenfield.
Holywell town councillor John Griffiths said: “The police were at the council meeting (on Tuesday) and said they had some figures and that the rumours were exaggerated. They said they were looking at it very carefully.
“In one of the incidents I’ve been told about a man who had gone out for the night and when he got back there were two fellas in his house who had got in through the back.
“The message going out is make sure you secure your houses.”
Holywell town councillor Karen Davies added: “Everyone is locking their doors. In the past, if you were in the house you wouldn’t necessarily lock your back doors but now everyone is.”
Holywell councillor Peter Curtis said: “It’s since Christmas, they know there’s ipods in houses and other electronic items they can get rid of quickly.
“Burglary is the lowest form of non-violent crime there is in my book.”
Les Smith, a resident on West Drive in Holywell, said: “I know there’s been two on this road. It’s happening randomly all over Holywell. It’s crazy, there’s been a big increase since Christmas.
“They’re coming in when people are upstairs. There was one in the Strand area where a lady was in bed and they broke in while she was in the house.”
One young mum on West Drive, who asked not to be named, said: “I’m very scared. They seem to be happening between 2am and 5am in the morning. We’ve spoken to the police and suggested a CCTV camera is installed on the lamppost on the road.”
Other roads residents say have been targeted in Holywell are Pen Y Ball, Hillside Court and Strand Crescent, as well as houses in Carmel and Greenfield.
One concerned resident on Strand Walk said she knew of a disabled lady who had been targeted. “They climbed through her window when she was in bed,” she said. “They took a lot of money and her laptop.”
Another resident on Strand Walk said: “I’ve always lived around here and never locked the door when I’m in the house but now we’re locking the door as soon as we get in.
“People are worried about it. The Strand area has been one of the worst hit over the past two weeks. I know someone who was sitting in the living room when they came into the kitchen. You shouldn’t feel like that in your own home.”
Residents reported seeing armed police in the Holway Road area yesterday morning.
A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “In the past couple of days we have been executing search warrants in connection with burglaries. Enquiries are continuing.”
A spokesman for Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch said: “We are encouraging people to sign up to the Neighbourhood Watch Owl alerts.”