A man has been arrested after he climbed onto the roof of a petrol station in Brixworth.

The main road through Brixworth village was closed at 10.30am on Saturday after reports that a man was climbing over garden fences.

The man, who was later found to be wanted for a number of offences, was chased by police officers. He then climbed on to the roof of Blason’s petrol station in Northampton Road.

The area was cordoned off by police and the force helicopter and police dog car were in attendance.

The road was eventually re-opened at about 12.45pm after the man climbed down.

A man was attacked as he walked home from a Corby nightclub in the early hours of the morning.

The 20-year-old was walking from Oakley Road into Burghley Drive sometime between 1am and 2am on Sunday, April 20 when he was assaulted.

Without knowing what had happened, he found himself on the floor being kicked and punched.

He managed to get up to his feet and asked his attackers what they were doing, but they pushed him back down and stole items from his pockets and his bag.

They then ran away towards Brayford Avenue, leaving the man with a dislocated shoulder and cuts and bruises.

The attackers were both women. One was about 30, medium build and about 5ft 8in. She was white, but had a dark complexion and wore pink trousers.

The second woman was about 25-years-old.

Witnesses, or anyone with any information about this incident, can call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A woman was targeted by suspected thieves as she walked along Inwood Close in Corby on Friday morning.

Two men got out of a small black car as the woman walked along the road at around 11am and asked her for directions.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “One of them presented a map and as she gave them directions, she realised the other had his hand in her bag and was trying to steal her purse.

“She understood what he was doing before he managed to take anything.”

The driver of the car is described as being olive skinned with dark wavy hair and stubble, 5ft 7in, slim build and in his early 30s.

The passenger is described as white, mid 40s, 5ft 6in, slim build and receding light-brown hair. He wore large dark-framed glasses.

Both the men wore dark-coloured suits and ties, and had foreign accents.

Witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A man walking along a road in Northampton was attacked by a gang of men suspected to be carrying knives.

A 42-year-old man was walking along St James Road on Black Lion Hill, close to Northampton train station, when he was approached by a group of men.

Three of the men assaulted him, possibly with stanley knives.

The victim was taken to Northampton General Hospital for treatment.

The incident happened at about 1am yesterday (Sunday).

The altercation spilled out into the road, and police believe it may have been witnessed by passing motorists.

The offenders are described as being in Asian and in their early 20s.

Witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The family of a Northampton heart and lung transplant patient is holding a musical concert to mark 13 years of the successful operation.

Natasha Rogers had been on the waiting list for seven-and-a-half years and had been given two weeks to live before the donation came through. She has gone to make remarkable progress, including competing at the inaugral British Transplant Games.

Now, Natasha and her parents, Graham and Ann, have organised a performance by The Household Troops Band of the Salvation Army at the Salvation Army Hall in Penistone Road, Northampton, on Saturday June 28.

A family statement said the concert was the ideal way to show support for organ donation, as well as enjoying “a feast” of musical entertainment.

“It’s very hard, as parents, to cope with the sort of situation we had with Natasha, but we all never gave up hope and continued to pray.

“The phone call on that Monday evening was the call that we had waited, hoped and prayed for, but dreaded coming. Donor organs had become available and may be suitable for Natasha. This was to be the start of Natasha’s “new life” For their selfless gift we owe them so much and they will for ever be in our thoughts and prayers.”

The concert will be raising money for the Harefield Hospital Hamsters transplant team that competes in the British Transplant Games. Natasha took part in last year’s Games, winning a gold medal for cricket ball throwing. Unfortunately due to her on-going treatment, Natasha cannot compete.

“We are arranging a musical concert to celebrate her 13th ‘transplant’ anniversary and raise much needed funds to support the team in promoting ‘organ donation’ and ‘transplantation’. These procedures CAN and DO work, as Natasha and many people out there are living proof.

Tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are priced at £7.50 each and £5.00 (cons).

“We would appeal to you all to put this date in your diary, get together with friends and family and come along and have an evening out, celebrating this wonderful achievement of 13 years, living life to the ‘full’ and being an excellent ambassador for ‘organ donation’ and ‘transplantation’,” the family said.

“Your support would be much appreciated and it will also give the hope and encouragement to the many people on the various ‘transplant’ waiting lists. If you’ve been there, done it and got the t shirt, then let’s get together and ‘shout’ about it.”

Tickets are available by calling 01604 406431 or emailing g.rogers31@virginmedia.com

Olympic silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead says next week’s Women’s Tour is a big priority for her.

At the start of this season the height of her spring ambitions was to get back into the groove after a testing, injury-plagued, 2013 when she struggled to build in any fitness, form or confidence.

And yet here we are at the end of April and after four quickfire World Cup races – one first and three second places – Armitstead is leading the UCI World Cup rankings by 160 points.

Yet the World Cup isn’t really a season’s goal for the Olympic Silver medal winner.

She will not be travelling to China after the inaugural Friends Life Women’s Tour for the next round at Chongming Island or indeed will she be at Round Six, the Sparkassen Giro in Bochum, which clashes with the Commonwealth Games.

“It funny how it goes but the World Cup itself wasn’t really a target at all, although we had our eyes on one of two of the races in particular, and yet it has gone very well so far.

“The Commonwealth Games and the World Championships are strong personal goals this season the Women’s Tour and the La Course one day race on the last day of the Tour de France, which finishes on the Champs Elysees, are going to be very big and high profile events for my team Boels Dolmans.

“The fact is 2012 was a huge year for me, mentally and physically, and I probably paid the price a bit in 2013 when there was a lot of accumulated fatigue and I picked up a few injury niggles.

“There was no panic though, I knew what was happening, so come the winter I took the chance to relax and really rest first before starting to quietly work away though the winter.

“I started the season very fresh but what I probably couldn’t anticipate so much was that I would be in such good form.

“There are no plans yet to change my programme so I will race an abbreviated World Cup schedule and if that is enough to win the title, all well and good.

“I certainly won’t be going to China, which starts just a couple of days after the Women’s Tour – which became a big priority for me as soon as it was announced – and then I will definitely miss another round when the Commonwealth Games are on.

“The road race in Glasgow is a big target although racing in La Course will rule out any track racing.

“I’ve been pretty vocal in my support for women’s cycling being treated properly and on an equal footing with the men so obviously am very excited about the Women’s Tour.

“I am totally behind what the organisers are doing and the ethics behind the race if you like but as we get closer, being a racer, my focus is simply on the race itself and how we can perform best as a team.

“Being a new event we have no real prior knowledge of the finishes and expected conditions – I would imagine there could be a couple of windy days – so we will be looking at the race manual and scrambling to get all the information I can in the next few days.

“What we do know is that we have five reasonably short stages and a very competitive field with most of the top teams and racers present so I am expecting some really hectic finishes.”

Interview quotes courtesy of {http://thetour.co.uk/home.php|The Tour|}.

You can read the full interview with Lizzie, where she talks about her 2014 UCI World Cup campaign {http://thetour.co.uk/news/9689.php#.U19snFVdVbE|here|}.

The Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council has launched a petition to help save the Hate Crime Unit, as Labour speak out about ‘short sighted’ police decision.

Northamptonshire Police confirmed last week that it is looking at disbanding its hate crime unit.

The review has been prompted by a report from the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, which recommended the best way of handling homophobic, racist and anti-disabled crimes in Northamptonshire - of which there were 443 last year - was to give advanced training to 1,500 officers.

The Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council has now launched a petition to save the unit, while Labour politicians in the county have described the move as ‘foolish’ and ‘short sighted’.

Councillor Lee Mason (Lab, Brookside), Deputy Leader of the Labour Group at Northampton Borough Council, said: “I think disbanding the hate crimes unit is short sighted.

“We now live in a much more tolerant and open country, but regrettably some deep rooted and persistent prejudices remain.

“The hate crime unit has specialist advice, expertise and evidence gathering, which plays a key role in tackling hate crime. To disband it is a step backwards.”

Julie Brookfield (Lab, Corby West) is Labour’s representative on the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Panel. She said: “We recognise that Northamptonshire Police needs to deliver £23m of savings over the next five years, but the force has to focus their spending on what is key.”

“In our view, maintaining the hate crime unit is extremely important. It is foolish to assume that the unit could be replaced by providing general training to staff and officers.

“It’s not an ‘either or.’ All staff and officers need to be properly trained in order to raise awareness of hate crime, but we also need to ensure that complex cases are dealt with by those officers who have relevant expertise.

“I hope senior officers take this into account when making their decision.”

The hate crime unit, which is experienced in dealing with incidents of hate crime, currently has six officers.

Northamptonshire Police has said that disbanding the unit would provide savings as it seeks to save £23 million over five years.

A spokesman for the Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council said: “Northamptonshire Police recorded 1058 hate crimes and incidents in 2013. A small specialist unit in the force of six officers supports the resolution of these events by being there for victims and helping put together cases to bring perpetrators to justice.

“Victims experience of hate crime is very different from other kinds of crime as it is an attack on who they are - their very being , their very existence. Police officers on the ground need the support of specialists to make sure that the right decisions are made to challenge racism, homophobia, religious hatred and attacks on disabled people.

“If you think this is important too please sign the petition. Cutting this small specialist team will have little impact on many millions of pound of savings that the force have to save but will make a very big difference to hate crime victims.”

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster said: “[The extra training] means we now have more people trained and able to respond to hate crimes. Given we now have a greater capability to deal with such crimes, it seems logical that we review whether there is a need for a small unit solely dedicated to these sorts of incidents.”

To find out more about the petition click here {http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/adrian-lee-protect-the-existing-resources-for-the-northamptonshire-police-hate-crime-unit-to-save-services-that-hate-crime-victims-need?recruiter=16039609&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition|PETITION|PETITION}

A casino in Northampton is giving someone the chance to change their life by making them a millionaire.

The casino, in Commercial Street, is launching its brand new competition where someone will get the chance to spin for £1 million.

It is the casino’s biggest ever giveaway.

Aspers’ ‘Spin for a Million’ game officially launches on Thursday this week (May 1) and will run across all four of the Aspers locations, leading to a grand final spin at its flagship Casino in London on Saturday June 21.

To enter, all customers have to do is visit Aspers and use their Aspire Reward card to earn tickets for the draw and a chance to win a place at the ‘Spin for a Million’ semi-final on Sunday June 15 – where £10,000 cash will be given away.

Every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night at 9pm and midnight, ten tickets will be chosen from a barrel and each person picks a red or black ball. The roulette wheel will decide who goes through to the semi final. If a person picks the Golden Ball, they will instantly win £500.

On Saturday June 15, all semi finalists will be placed in a barrel and five chosen to go through to the grand final. Those five will instantly get the chance to pick a box, one contains £5,000 cash, another £2,000 and the three remaining have £1,000 each.

The 20 finalists will be invited to Aspers Stratford on Saturday June 21 for the chance to win £1,000,000.

David Stratford, general manager at Aspers Northampton, said: “This is the gaming highlight of the year for Aspers and we are very excited to be giving away such an unprecedented amount of money.

“We are offering significantly lower odds of becoming a millionaire than many national promotions and there is a real chance someone will win! As well as the big million spin, there’s a sweetener prize – a guaranteed £25,000 in cash that someone must win so why not take part?!”

The competition is open to everyone over the age of 18.

For further details on Aspers Casino’s ‘Spin for a Million’ draw with full terms and conditions please visit: www.aspersnorthampton.co.uk

A shop manager who was opening up for the day was threatened by a man who pushed an object into her back before stealing money and jewellery.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the robbery at the Cheque Centre in Foundry Walk, Daventry.

As the manager of the shop was opening up, she was approached by a man. He pushed an object into her back, told her to go into the shop and demanded that she open the safe.

He stole cash and jewellery, which he put in a rucksack, and then left through the fire exit at the back of the shop.

The offender was about 5ft 5in, with a slim build and spoke with a French accent. He was wearing a black long-sleeved top and a black full-face covering. He was carrying a navy blue rucksack, which had some kind of logo printed on it.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Officers would particularly like to talk to a man who was seen walking past the shop, possibly carrying a cup of coffee, at about the time of the robbery.

The robbery happened on Tuesday April 22 at about 8.30am.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Conservatives in Northamptonshire have launched their European Parliamentary elections campaign at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.

After the launch, Emma McClarkin MEP, unveiled a Conservative Party billboard nearby to the rugby stadium.

The event was attended by fellow Conservatives, MP Peter Bone and Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds and other Euro candidates Andrew Lewer, Rupert Matthews and Stephen Castens.

Ms McClarkin said: “As a Northamptonshire MEP for the last five years I know from experience we need change in Brussels.

“If you want real change, real results, and a real referendum on our future relationship with Europe you have to vote Conservative.”

The Labour candidates in the East Midlands are Glenis Willmott, Rory Palmer, Linda Woodings, Khalid Hadadi and Nicki Brooks.

Lib Dem candidates are Bill Newton Dunn, Issan Ghazni, Phil Knowles, George Smid and Deborah Newton-Cook.

UKIP are putting forward Roger Helmer, Margot Parker, Jonathan Bullock, Nigel Wickens and Barry Mahoney.

The election takes place on May 22.

A man suffered serious injuries during a crash in Kettering last night (Monday).

The crash on the A43 involved a grey Toyota Yaris driven by a 26-year-old woman, a red Ford Fiesta being driven by a 51-year-old man and a green VW Passat with a 31-year-old man at the wheel.

The cars were approaching the roundabout on the northern bypass, in the direction of the A6003, when the collision took place at about 5.35pm.

The driver of the Fiesta suffered serious injuries and was taken to University Hospital Coventry by the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance. The driver and a passenger in the Passat were taken to Kettering General Hospital with minor injuries.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this collision or have any information regarding it.

Anyone with information or who witnessed this incident is asked to call the Drivewatch Hotmail on 0800 174615.

A shop was set on fire in Corby last night (Monday), causing damage to the inside of the building.

The fire was started sometime between 2am and 2.45am, at the Amanda’s food shop in Post Office Square, Corby.

The inside of the shop was damaged by the fire and police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed anyone acting suspiciously in the area in the early hours of Monday to contact them.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 21ft caravan was stolen from the driveway of a house in Diamond Drive, Irthlingborough yesterday (Monday).

The cream Bailey Pageant 6 Bretagne caravan was parked on the driveway at 8.15am but had been taken by the time the owner returned home at 6pm.

The offenders removed a hitch lock and towed the caravan away.

Inside was a blue, yellow and silver Zip Lightning Go-Kart, with a Mycron computer on the steering wheel and the number 17 on the back and both sides, as well as ‘All Stars Racing Team’ written on the sides.

Also in the caravan was a children’s racing helmet made by Impact which is covered in the Union Jack flag.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the caravan being stolen from Diamond Close yesterday or was offered it or the go-kart for sale.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The leader of Northampton Borough Council has defended himself against claims from opposition politicians that he takes all the credit for the achievements of the council.

At a bad-tempered full council meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Sally Beardsworth put forward a motion calling for the Conservative administration to deliver their 2011 manifesto pledge of being a council that “listens and delivers what people want.”

Councillor Beardsworth said: “It is not about an administration congratulating itself but it is about doing a good job.

“Councillor Mackintosh does everything and it is a shame for their portfolio holders that live in his shadow. Why doesn’t he bring them out and give them credit for what they have done.”

But, speaking after the meeting, Councillor Mackintosh denied that he took all the credit and said he did support his cabinet colleagues and allowed them a chance in the limelight.

He said: “I don’t think that’s true; I do support my cabinet colleagues.

“I don’t think I should take any lectures from the Lib Dems about how to run an administration and election campaign as they went down from 26 councillors to four in 2011.”

Councillor Mackintosh also received support from his Conservative colleague Tim Hadland who said he was the “hardest-working politician you will ever clap eyes on.”

Councillor Phil Larratt said: “At least he is doing something. He did more in a week than you lot did in four years.”

Councillor Tim Hadland said: “He never sleeps. He is the hardest-working politician you will ever clap eyes on and many politicians could learn from him.”

A Conservative Northampton borough councillor has said only a “small number” of people in the town oppose the opening up of Abington Street to traffic.

Speaking at a Northampton Borough Council meeting on Monday night, Councillor Michael Hill (Con, Nene Valley) said the vast majority in people were not concerned about plans to allow vehicles to use part of the shopping street.

Councillor Hill said: “There are a small number of people opposing this. A few people made chalk marks on the street but more than 200,000 people in the town have registered no concern at all.

“It said in our manifesto this was what we were going to do and the people put their faith in a Conservative administration.

“For the Liberal democrats to lecture us on manifesto pledges is ridiculous.”

During the meeting five members of the public spoke out against the Abington Street plans and there was also a written question to David Mackintosh, leader of the council, about the plans.

In response to Councillor Hill’s comments, Councillor Dennis Meredith (Lib dem, Talavera) said it was “nonsense” to suggest only a minority of people were against the plans to open up Abington Street to traffic.

But, speaking after the meeting, Councillor Mackintosh said the opening up of Abington Street to traffic was not one of the main topics that voters were currently writing to him about. He said more people were excercised about the new bus station and the Grosvenor Centre.

Too many cases in former unit of Northamptonshire are not resulting in convictions a report by Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) reveals today.

Inspectors said this affected the willingness of victims and witnesses to attend a trial and “has led to a number of unsuccessful cases in Northamptonshire owing to key victims or witnesses no longer supporting the case”.

In 2012-13 it took on average of more than 123 days for a case to progress from charge to finalisation. The national average was over 86 days which meant that Northamptonshire was ranked 40th out of the 42 CPS units.

Chief Inspector Michael Fuller QPM said: “This report identified the urgent need for the CPS in Northamptonshire to work with the courts to reduce delays in progressing cases.

“Victims and witnesses should be at the heart of everything CPS does and they must work hard with outside agencies to ensure they are given all possible support.

“If the performance is to improve Northamptonshire need to ensure they progress cases swiftly and efficiently to a successful conclusion.”

Inspectors looked into “unsuccessful outcomes” in magistrates’ courts in Northamptonshire, where the accused neither pleads guilty or is convicted.

The report found that the Northamptonshire unit, which has been subsumed by an East Midlands regional unit, needed to work more closely with the courts to reduce the delay and number of hearings in progressing cases.

The inspectors said there was an issue with the length of time it takes from charge to the conclusion of a case.

HMCPSI also identified that the unit’s prosecutors needed to be more proactive in court when progressing cases at first hearing so that delays are kept to a minimum.

The report made the following recommendations:

-The CPS needs to review with its partner agencies the contact with and support given to victims and witnesses

-The CPS needs to work with HM Courts & Tribunals Service to minimise delays in listing cases for trial

-There should be a review of the allocation of lawyers between initial review and trial review teams to ensure the optimum balance is obtained.

Responding to the criticism, the CPS said that, at the time HMCPSI conducted its review, which was in 2013, CPS East Midlands had already identified that unsuccessful outcomes in magistrates’ court cases in Northamptonshire needed to be addressed.

Performance in the Crown Court “was and indeed remains strong with a conviction rate well above the national average”, it said.

Steve Chappell, Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS East Midlands said: “I am extremely grateful to HM CPS Inspectorate for their careful consideration in this report and we welcome their recommendations.

“Work had already commenced on the latter two recommendations in 2013.

“The results of this work are now bearing fruit. We have implemented changes to the way we work, asking some of our lawyers to review files earlier in the court process.

“This change in our approach has been supported by Northamptonshire Police. As a result, the proportion of early guilty pleas at

first hearing in the magistrates’ court has increased from 63.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2013/14 to 72.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2013/14.”

Mr Chappell said the work the CPS had undertaken with HMCTS had had a positive impact on the lead in time for trials and “victims and witnesses will benefit from this approach”.

Witnesses will be advised earlier in the process as to whether they are required to give evidence and the delays in listing cases for trial will be reduced, he claimed.

Mr Chappell addedd: “We have good working relationships with our criminal justice partners in Northamptonshire and have already signalled our willingness to work with them to review the support given to victims and witnesses.

“We will improve the service we provide to victims and witnesses when we launch our Victim Liaison Unit in June. This unit will offer a more specialist and bespoke service those who require support and assistance from the CPS.

“While I am satisfied that much has been achieved in the last year in Northamptonshire and the East Midlands as a whole and that this is reflected in the recent improvement in our performance, neither I nor any member of staff in CPS East Midlands is complacent.

“I can offer my personal guarantee as Chief Crown Prosecutor that we will work hard to continue to improve the service we provide to the public in Northamptonshire.”

The controversial HS2 high speed rail link is “vital to the future prosperity of Northampton” according to one of the town’s MPs.

Brian Binley, MP for Northampton South, attended Monday’s debate in the House of Commons. He has been an enthusiastic support of the rail link, which cuts through the south of the county.

“Many of those who complain about disruption in their green and pleasant constituencies rarely think about major housing growth areas such as Northampton, which is expected to increase its population by 50 percent over the next 25 years to provide for the housing needs of the south-east and, in so doing, help to alleviate demand that might be placed on other constituencies.

“With respect, it is no wonder that some of my constituents think that that view is perhaps a little uncaring, to say the least.

“Furthermore, critics of HS2 must be clear about whether they prefer to forgo growth—that growth would be hampered by the maintenance of the status quo—and they must define their alternatives while remembering that none of those so far proposed would meet the increased projected demands to which I have referred.”

One of the most vocal MPs protesting against the scheme has been Mr Binley’s fellow Conservative Andrea Leadsom, whose South Northamptonshire constituency is blighted by the route. Mrs Leadsom was recently promoted to the position of Treasury Minister and, like other high-profile ministers, abstained from Monday’s vote as they had other commitments elsewhere. Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough, and Philip Hollobone, MP for Kettering, both voted against the scheme. In all, 33 Tory MPs voted against the plans in defiance of the Government whips.

Mr Binley, who is also the chairman of the Northampton Rail Users Group, urged his Westminster colleagues to look at the positives that the HS2 project will bring.

He said: “We already have an overcrowded network that is literally full to capacity on our most significant transport corridor. We have record traffic levels, with passenger growth at five percent per annum. Rail freight will double over the next 20 years. Yet an aged existing permanent way is decaying to the point of redundancy.”

He continued: “The Higgins review concluded that a make and mend upgrade of the west coast main line on its own simply will not meet future demand, no matter what we do with it. The capacity does not exist. Make and mend on its own would be futile, and would mean 20 years of major disruption, at a cost of more than £20 billion—virtually the same cost as phase 1 of HS2—and a further 14 years of weak and disruptive bus substitutions and longer journeys on a far greater scale than during the route modernisation completed a few years ago.”

Mr Binley concluded: “The issue is wider than just a set of railway lines; it is about what we feel about competing in the world to come and what we are willing to leave both our children and our grandchildren. Had the Victorian railway entrepreneurs not taken the decisions they did when they did, we would be in a sorry state now.”

Northampton has topped a list of UK towns and cities where people are most likely to get their mobile phones stolen.

The town came in third place in a league table compiled by an insurance company, which produced the information based on nearly 35,000 insurance claims across the country. London topped the table in the first place and Leeds in second. Milton Keynes came seventh, Leicester was in 11th place and Birmingham was in 20th position.

The safest place in the UK, according to the report, was Dudley. The most absent-minded mobile owners were in Bradford where three in ten claims were for losing their phone.

Stephen Ebbett, director of Protect Your Bubble which compiled the report, said: “Gadget owners can never be too cautious. Everyday we cart around hundreds, or even thousands of pounds worth of high-tech gear, such as smartphones, tablets, cameras and e-readers. This makes many of us prime targets for thieves. Should you be unlucky enough to fall victim to mobile theft, specialist gadget insurance will cover you by replacing your stolen handset.

“The good news is that we’re seeing mobile thefts drop. So far, 9% of mobile claims we’ve received in 2014 have been for theft, compared to 11% for the same period last year. But that doesn’t mean smartphone users should be any less vigilant. People can reduce their risk of being targeted by keeping their mobiles out of sight in public. Carry them in a pocket or bag with a zip, rather than your trouser pocket, or in your hand.

“Mobile users can safeguard both their data and finances by blocking their phones with their airtime provider as quickly as possible after a theft - so they don’t end up paying through the nose for unauthorised calls. Good gadget insurance will also cover the cost of unauthorised calls.”

A woman had her mobile phone stolen in Kettering Road, Northampton, as she walked home after a night out.

Sometime between 2.45am and 3.15am, on Monday (April 28) the woman was walking down Kettering Road, near Alternative Art, when she noticed a man approaching quickly from behind.

As she stepped aside to let him pass, he grabbed her top and said ‘give me your stuff’. The victim refused but he demanded again in a threatening manner and she handed over her iPhone.

The offender is described as white, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, with short dark brown hair. He was wearing a dark-coloured jacket and blue jeans and he spoke with a local accent.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thieves have stolen some solar panels from a house in Corby.

Police are now appealing for witnesses after solar panels were stolen from a house in Regal Close, off Lime Trees Grove, Corby, over the weekend.

Between 5pm on Friday April 25 and 8am on Monday April 28 thieves broke into the garage of a newly built house and stole a quantity of solar panels.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.