Burglary prevention this winter.

Burglary prevention this winter.

The Tipton Town Neighbourhood Policing Team has re-emphasised its strict winter burglary prevention advice as part of West Midlands Police's ongoing "Darker Nights" campaign.

 As daylight hours remain short throughout the winter months, opportunistic thieves rely on the cover of early darkness to spot empty, unlit houses around Tipton, Great Bridge, and Princes End.

The police force advises layering your home security by focusing on these essential winter defences:

Winter Home Security Checklist

• The "W-I-N-T-E-R" Rule: Use automatic timer switches or smart plugs to program indoor lights, radios, or televisions to turn on before the sun sets. An unlit house at 4:30 PM is an immediate giveaway to burglars that no one is home.

• The "Lift and Lock" Mandate: For modern uPVC or composite doors, always lift the handle, turn the key completely, and remove the key from the cylinder. Never leave keys inside the lock or sitting on a hallway radiator where thieves can snag them through the letterbox using hooks ("letterbox fishing").

• Secure Boundary Lockdowns: Ensure side gates, high-value sheds, and outhouses are secured with heavy-duty padlocks. Opportunistic burglars frequently raid garden sheds to find ladders, spades, or tools to force entry into the main property.

• Upgrade to Anti-Snap Cylinders: Verify that your Euro-cylinder door locks carry a TS007 3-star rating or Sold Secure Diamond standards. Lock snapping remains a common method of forced entry, and upgrading your barrels can stop an intruder in seconds.

• Conceal High-Value Winter Items: Keep winter tech purchases, car keys, and high-value jewellery out of direct sight from ground-floor windows. When getting rid of packaging for expensive electronics or gifts, cut up the cardboard boxes and place them inside the recycling bin rather than leaving them stacked on the driveway.

• Maintain Your Perimeter Tech: Check that motion-activated outdoor security lights are clean and working properly, and keep digital video doorbells or CCTV cameras fully charged and clear of winter frost or condensation.

Reporting Suspicious Activity in Tipton

If you notice someone loitering in dark clothing, checking residential gates, or scouting vehicles and properties, report it straight away to WMP

• Emergency (Crime in progress or immediate danger): Call 999 instantly.

Thank you from Tipton neighbourhood.