Armadale Police said more than 20 burglaries were recorded last weekend, well up on the recent trend in the area.
The 20 reported incidents were up on recent trends, which police said had been improving over the five-year average for the area.
On the weekend of August 12 and 13, Armadale, Kelmscott and Seville Grove saw spikes in crime, including a home invasion by up to six youths on bicycles.
Police said the youths were disrupted mid-burglary by neighbours and fled on their bicycles.
Luckily the neighbours were quick enough to snap some pictures and record video of the suspects and police were able to recognise several of the youths – one of which had been released from custody only a day before.
Police said several of the offenders had been apprehended and charged, and the rest would soon be located.
In Armadale burglaries were reported in Braemore Street, Tudor Road, Coralie Court, Fifth Road, Shanks Court, Bavich Road, Amaroo Court and Cowan Street.
Thieves gained entry to several of the properties because laundry, kitchen and front doors had been left unlocked.
Police advised residents to keep doors locked even when at home to ensure thieves were kept out.
Five different people were charged with stealing offences in the CBD during the week after being caught on security cameras.
In Kelmscott Ryland Road, Westfield Road, Valentine Road, Edmund Road, Balantyre Road and Roberts Road were targeted.
Another break-in was attempted in Clifton Street but thanks to a home alarm the crooks were scared off.
A home on Berala Court was burgled in Camillo during the week, but there had been an increase in reports of thefts from shops on Westfield Road.
Three homes were burgled in Seville Grove.
These were homes on Challis Road, Verdant Crescent and Brown Crescent.
The criminal who broke into the home on Verdant Crescent was spotted later on security footage using a stolen credit card to make a purchase and police said they were confident they would be tracked down.
A man who rode away a child’s bicycle allegedly carried out the Brown Crescent break-in.
The perpetrator was caught on CCTV and his image is the one at the top of this article.
If you know this person, call Armadale Police on 9399 0222.
