CRIMES were up in Stow in November, compared to the previous year, but still only totalled seven, members of the town council were told on Thursday.

Sergeant Richard Payne told councillors that many of the crimes left the police with no evidence to follow up on and no further action was being taken.

However, he took the opportunity to say that most of the crimes could have been avoided and urged people to look after their own property.

Two were burglaries of which inquiries are ongoing and forensic evidence is being gathered. Two were criminal damage, one to a vehicle and one to a wall and three crimes were of theft. One theft was of a road sign, another shoplifting of items and another stone from a wall.

"Seven crimes in a month is low. In some places you can get seven crimes an hour," he said.