Review your Garage and Shed Security

Dear Resident

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding burglary, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

We have noticed that garages and sheds are being increasingly targeted by thieves in our area and so asking local residents and businesses to review their security for these buildings. Unfortunately, garages are often seen as a softer target then homes and commonly hold expensive items such as tools and bicycles.

Those garages with older, single locking points are most vulnerable to being forced open and our advice is to ensure the garage or shed is locked with a substantial lock and if possible an alarm fitted. Further advice can be found on the following link.

https://www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-home-crime/secure-shed-garage/

We are actively pursuing those who commit these crimes in our community, if you have any information or believe you may have caught any footage on your home CCTV please let us know by calling 101 or coming to see us at our regular drop in sessions.

While we will continue to pursue burglars in the area, there are steps you can do to help keep your property safe. Make sure that you:  

• Double lock your door every time you leave the house  

• If you can, move garden furniture or bins away from windows so that thieves cannot use them to gain access.  

• Use laminated glass or security film on ground floor and accessible windows.  

• Use a sash stop if you have sash windows to prevent people opening them enough to climb through.  

• If your windows open outwards, use a key operated lock – check these are locked before leaving the house.  

• Make sure all valuables are out of sight. 

• Keep handbags and keys away from letterboxes or cat flaps.  

• In the evening shut the curtains and leave lights on.  

• Set your burglar alarm 

• Lock your  shed or garage 

• Mark, register or record your valuables. 

Please go to our website to find the latest advice and guidance on keeping yourself safe.

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.  

As you have not contributed to the priority survey recently, we may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Please take a few minutes to securely and privately have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 

{SURVEY [PRIORITY]} 

You may also want to rate this message to let us know if this information was useful or not or use the system to change which issues we update you about, you can do these things quickly and easily using the buttons below.