Man arrested for string of burglaries in Watford, Three Rivers, Hertsmere
A man has been arrested and charged with multiple burglaries in Watford, Three Rivers, and Hertsmere, marking the third charge against a burglary suspect made by the Three Rivers local crime unit in less than two weeks.
Vasile Ganea, 31, is accused of being responsible for seven break-ins occurring from June to the end of October this year.
Two break-ins took place on June 24 in Fern Way, Watford, where he stole jewellery and foreign currency. Another incident occurred two days later in Maple Close, Bushey, where jewellery and cash were stolen.
On August 26, two more break-ins happened in Old Common Road and Station Approach, Chorleywood. The final break-ins occurred on October 29 in Cassiobury Park Road and Watford Road in Croxley Green.
“Ganea was arrested after we received a call from a victim who had been notified by an app on their phone to movement inside their address in Croxley Green,” said Detective Inspector Dan Bhamra, who leads the Three Rivers local crime unit.
“Officers attended and detained Ganea less than 10 minutes after the call came into police.”
Ganea’s charge comes just two months after another man was jailed for four months for committing five burglaries and one attempted burglary in Watford.
Ben Kempster, 40, with no fixed address, was apprehended on Sunday morning, August 27, by the Safer Neighbourhood Team. He was identified as a suspect in a series of crimes targeting multiple businesses on Watford High Street.
On August 20, Kempster forcibly entered a Domino’s Pizza at 1:30 AM, leaving the door damaged, but he didn’t steal anything. The next day, at 4:15 AM, he stole money from the till at Creams Café. On August 22, he returned to the café early to take cash from the tip box.
On August 27, he committed more offences in the early hours. First, he stole five bottles of champagne from Popworld. Then, he broke into the Heather and Rose health food shop, stealing the cash float. He also attempted to enter the Hanako Japanese restaurant but left empty-handed.
Hertfordshire Police quickly identified Kempster as a suspect, leading to his arrest. He was eventually charged and remanded. Kempster admitted to all charges and received a four-month prison sentence during his appearance at Hatfield Remand Court on Monday, August 28.
Staying safe in Watford
Data from Crime Rate recorded between September 2020 and August 2023 show that Hertfordshire was one of the ten safest counties in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In 2022, Hertfordshire’s overall crime rate was 61 crimes per 1,000 people, and its burglary rate was 2.81.
Watford, however, is one of the most dangerous towns in the county. Its overall crime rate is 79 crimes per 1,000 people in 2022. This is 30 percent higher than the county’s average.
Watford had the highest burglary rate in Hertfordshire in December 2022, with 35 burglaries reported at a rate of 0.25 per 1,000 residents.
This is why Detective Inspector Bhamra encourages residents to contact 999 if they witness an ongoing crime or they have become victims of a crime.
“This shows just how important it is to dial 999 as soon as you witness suspicious activity or suspect a crime may be in progress, as it means we can prioritise our attendance,” said Bhamra.
Apart from swift reporting, residents of Hertfordshire are recommended to install security tools to reinforce their houses’ and businesses’ security, such as double door and window locks, CCTV cameras, and access control keypads with cameras.
Residents who live in high-value properties or own high-value items can also invest in protection from security companies such as Marengo. They can customise a security plan that suits each high-value residence.
Source:
