Kent Against Burglary - Seasonal Crime Prevention Message

Kent Against Burglary - Seasonal Crime Prevention Message

Keep reading, there's a picture of a police dog at the end, and near enough everyone loves a photo of a dog!

So, the clocks go back one hour this weeked, Sunday, 25 October 2026, at 2:00 am (becoming 1:00 am), so time for some relevant crime prevention seasonal advice.

🏠 Kent Against Burglary - Seasonal Crime Prevention Message

As the evenings get darker and we head towards the festive season, it's important to take a few simple steps to protect your home, vehicle and valuables from opportunistic criminals. Historically, burglaries can increase during the autumn and winter months as offenders take advantage of longer hours of darkness and the presence of valuable gifts in homes. 

There are several simple measures you can take to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary:

✅ Always lock your doors and windows when leaving your property, even if it's only for a short time.

✅ Keep keys, cash and valuables out of sight and away from doors and windows.

✅ Use timer switches on lights or radios to give the impression someone is at home.

✅ Secure sheds, garages, gates and outbuildings, and safely store bikes, tools and garden equipment which could be stolen or used to gain entry to your property.

When it comes to protecting valuable items:

✅ Consider security marking valuable property such as bikes, laptops and mobile phones.

✅ Keep receipts, serial numbers and photographs of valuable items in a safe place.

✅ Register property on the national Immobilise database to help police identify and return recovered stolen property.

Don't forget about your vehicle:

✅ Store vehicle keys away from doors and windows and consider using a signal-blocking pouch for electronic keys.

✅ Lock and alarm your vehicle every time you leave it.

✅ Remove valuables from view and park in a well-lit location whenever possible.

If you see suspicious behaviour in your neighbourhood, report it to us. If a crime is in progress, always call 999.

For further burglary prevention advice, visit Kent Against Burglary: 🔗 https://www.kent.police.uk/police-forces/kent-police/areas/kent-police/campaigns/kent-against-burglary/ [kent.police.uk]

Together, by taking a few simple precautions, we can make Ashford a more difficult target for criminals and keep our communities safe.

🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

And lastly to the dog part…

PC Daniel Carter and PD Boss have been crowned the winners of the ‘Crimefighting Duo Award’ from the Thin Blue Paw Foundation.  Take a read through the link to read further… Police dog and handler win national crimefighting award | Kent Police 

Just one duo in the force who have been helping make our communities safer catching those baddies!