Merseyside Police is appealing for information following a burglary in Formby on Friday, 12 October during which a distinctive item was stolen.

It is believed the property on Duke Street was burgled in the early hours of Friday morning. A number of items were taken from the property including a distinctive silver I-pod Touch with the following engraved into it "To Ben Love Mum You'll Never Walk Alone" and an Olympus Digital Camera SLR E 500.

House-to-house enquiries have been conducted and an investigation into the full circumstances of the incident is ongoing.

Inspector Jim Atherton, said "These are valuable possessions and we are keen to re unite them with their owner.

"We appeal to anyone with any information about the incident, or who may have been offered to buy an I-pod Touch or camera matching these descriptions to call us, so we can hopefully reunite the items with the victim.

"I would ask that people take the time to reduce the risk of being a victim by ensuring there property is secure. Record the details of your valuables, make, models and serial numbers and ideally register them for free on www.immobillise.com

"This is a free national property register. Simply follow the links from the Merseyside Police website. This also includes lots of practical crime prevention advice."

"There have been a number of reports of thefts from sheds and garages in the area. Some of them had been left open or insecure allowing easy access to the offenders.

"I would urge everyone to ensure they lock their cars at night and in any event don't leave valuables in them. Secure Sheds and garages and back gates. Most thieves are opportunists and these simple precautions will hopefully make you less likely to become a victim of crime."

Officers would urge anyone who may have witnessed anyone acting suspiciously in the area in the early hours of Friday, 12 October or anyone with information to contact police on 0151 777 3055 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Top Ten Tips for keeping your house and car safe:

Lock all your doors and windows before you go out or to bed (almost a third of all burglaries in Sefton this summer happened when a door or window was left insecure)
If you have any external UPVC doors, always push the handle up AND turn the key otherwise it will not be secure
Invest in a burglar home and make sure you use it.
Use timers on your internal lights and buy motion-sensor outside ones
Keep house and car keys out of sight and out of reach to stop thieves reaching in and then being able to steal your car. Buy a lock box or secure tin to keep them in.
Keep expensive items in your downstairs rooms out of sight. Use blinds and either bushes or fencing to stop opportunists peering in.
Lock bikes and expensive garden appliances in a solid shed or garage and fit an intruder alarm
Use a ultra-violet pen to mark valuables with your postcode and house number, or better still, register them at Immobilise.com - a secure database the police can access to return stolen goods to their rightful owner.
Be vigilant when cold-callers come knocking and insist on checking their ID and with their company before you consider letting them in. Use a door chain and ask them to wait outside while doing this.

Call Copy Lane police station on 0151 777 3117 to book your free home security. Visit www.merseyside.police.uk/protecting-you/burglary