Residential Burglary Alert - Darker Nights

Dear Resident

We wish to make you aware that over the past few weeks we have had a slight increase in Burglaries in your area. Just a gentle reminder to make sure all doors and windows are locked.  Always key lock or bolt all external doors especially at night or whenever you leave the property.  Simply lifting or throwing the handle on a UPVC or other multi locking door is not sufficient.  Do not leave door keys or car keys near the front door where they can be reached via a cane or other item pushed through the letterbox in order to reach them. Please leave lights on using light timers, even leaving a radio on when out, pull curtains across before leaving if you will be returning after dark. The main items that are being taken are laptops, Jewellery, purses, hand bags and other hand held electronic items. 

For further burglary prevention information, please see below. 

If you see anything that looks suspicious that may raise your concerns please dial 101 or 999 if urgent. 

In the mean time we will be stepping up high-visibility patrols in this area.

Yours Sincerely

Creating the Illusion

Upon walking down the road and with the darker nights now closing in it is easy to spot that empty house; there is a line of houses, lights within and signs of occupancy. In the middle of these houses is a similar house but this one is in darkness with no signs of occupancy, easy to spot the empty house and chances are the burglar will too. 

At this time of year an increased number of house burglaries occur between dusk and when you get home. You don’t have to be a magician to create the illusion of occupancy and it may help protect your house.

To become an illusionist make your homes appear occupied even when you are out.

Simple things like lights on timers in rooms that you would normally occupy whilst in and a TV simulator for the evenings, you can now even get a timer that fits over your light switches (search on the internet for light switch timer) and door bells you can monitor and answer remotely via your mobile phone.

 During the day leave a radio on, boots outside the back door, newspaper over the arm of the chair with a drink on the table and a pair of spectacles, the list goes on. Don’t leave garden tools out in the garden though or you may find the burglar uses them. Lock tools securely away in a secure shed or garage; use a shed alarm these can also be remotely monitored too. 

If you would like any advice how on to keep your home safe or for a crime prevention survey of your house please contact your safer neighbourhood team.