Housebreakings

Households can therefore become the unwitting targets of crime, many carried out by the opportunist criminal. By taking a few simple precautions, householders will be in a better position to protect their homes and property, and more importantly give peace of mind.

1)      Make sure your home is secure at all times. Fit window locks and deadlocks on doors and always remember to set your burglar alarm if you have one.

2)      Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house.

3)      Lock tools or ladders away so that a thief cannot use them to break in.

4)      If you have a telephone entry system, always use it. Don’t let strangers in or hold the door open for someone who is arriving as you are leaving.

5)      Don’t leave house keys in your door or car keys in a place where they can be easily seen.

6)      Draw your curtains if you are going out for the evening.

7)      When you are away from home, use timer switches to turn lights on or off and let a friend or neighbour look after your home. Simple things like collecting mail left in the letterbox or adjusting curtains will make the house look lived in.

8)      Security mark valuable items such as Televisions and computers with your post code and house number and keep a record of these items serial numbers as they’ll be useful if you have to make an insurance claim.