Police believe organised crime groups are using the M4 to target businesses in Chippenham.
While crime statistics for the town area have dropped over the last year, there has been a slight increase in burglaries, with businesses being targeted.
Speaking at the annual Chippenham town meeting, Sergeant Jamie Ball of the Wiltshire Police neighbourhood team, revealed two-thirds of reported burglaries in the area occurred at commercial properties.
The force believes many of the offences are being committed by organised crime groups using the M4 for quick getaways.
READ MORE: Three drivers stopped for offences with Audi seized
Ball said: “The majority of burglaries that occur within the town, within the outskirts of the town, we believe are via organised crime groups that come up the M4 corridor.
“(They) will hit a couple of different premises in an evening, and then be back off down one of the roads and way out of the county within an hour of committing burglary.”
Despite this issue, Ball reassured residents that burglary numbers remain relatively low in the town.
Since April 2023, crimes recorded in Chippenham fell by 11 per cent, with drops in all offences except burglaries, which rose by just three incidents.
Ball added: “There’s still work to do to drive that awareness, but actually our figures look good up to some of the other sectors.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here