RESIDENTS in Hagley are being urged to security mark their property in a bid to beat thieves.

Police have said that security marking property can help discourage thieves as it makes the items hard to sell on.

It also helps the police return the items if they are stolen or lost and later found.

The warning comes as the Advertiser reported that Hagley has been hit by a spate of crime.

Hagley councillor Steve Colella is calling for an urgent crime summit.

The cllr, who pushed for a meeting with West Mercia police chiefs, the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, and Bromsgrove MP and Home Secretary Sajid Javid before Christmas, claimed there are now more burglaries and deception frauds taking place than ever before with numerous victims left devastated.

He said residents need some assurance so that "crime doesn't just become a way of life".

Read more here.

For further crime prevention or property marking advice, visit westmercia.police.uk/we-dont-buy-crime.