PEOPLE across East Hampshire are being urged to be vigilant following a high-value burglary in Headley Down.

The advice from Hampshire Police comes as new data from the Office for National Statistics highlights a spike in domestic burglaries in the region.

Officers are appealing for information after approximately £4,000 of jewellery, and a mobile phone, were stolen from a property in Beech Hill.

Now they’re asking people to keep an eye out for the missing items, in the hope they may be recovered and the thieves brought to justice.

The incident happened sometime between 6.30pm on Sunday, August 13, and 4.30pm on Monday, August 14, when burglars forced a window.

Among the stolen items were a white iPhone 5S, silver and white topaz earrings, silver and white topaz bracelet, Nexus watch with gold face and brown leather strap, yellow gold Swarovski crystal ring set, a gold-strapped dress, and thousands of pounds of other goods.

Anyone who has been offered any items which match these descriptions, or any items of jewellery under suspicious circumstances, should call the police.

Investigating officer Pc Pete Rees said: “The offenders have stolen a large amount of jewellery, including a distinctive silver and white topaz bracelet and earring set which was hand-made.

“Have you or anyone you know been offered this jewellery for sale? Do you recognise this jewellery as being for sale somewhere online or in a store?”

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting reference number 44170314145, or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555111.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that domestic burglaries have spiked in Hampshire.

The stats track crime rates between March 2016 and March 2017, during which time Hampshire saw a 14 per cent rise in all burglary and a 16 per cent rise in domestic burglary – well above the national increase of six per cent. There was also a 24 per cent spike in vehicle related thefts and a 27 per cent rise in robbery.

Nationally, only around one-in-10 burglaries are solved.

In Hampshire, this could be caused in part by resources stretched thinner than many senior officers would like.

John Apter, chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, has warned that the force is “at crisis point” after budget cuts, with officers facing unprecedented strain.

The crux of the issue is, he said, is that in Hampshire “there are simply not enough police officers”, with numbers dropping off since 2010.

Fewer officers means resources must be focused on the most serious crimes. On top of this, a diminished visible police presence can further embolden criminals.

Nationally, the Office for National Statistics data shows police-recorded crime has risen by 10 per cent across England and Wales, which is the largest annual rise for a decade.

The most worrying spike is violent crime, which has seen an 18 per cent increase nationally. Whereas Hampshire falls below the average on this front, with a 14 per cent increase in recorded violence.