Summer Burglary Advice

Posted by Admin on 1 May 2014, 11:06 pm

Summer Burglary Advice by Crime Prevention Officer, Sarah Cohen
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Spring will soon be turning into Summer and this means that you should be thinking of a seasonal check of your home security now – this can be a time when we see burglaries rise as windows are left open, and doors are left unlocked. If you are in the back garden, with your front door left unlocked, all you are doing is presenting a fantastic opportunity for a burglar – please do get into the mindset of always locking your front door when at home, and always closing your windows when you go out.
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To carry out a basic check of your home you can walk around the premises, checking that windows and doors have correct locks and frames are secure. Do you have a side gate? Is it locked and inaccessible to climb? Would you need to extend the height of it? Check that your fence is secure and solid. Also – look inside your home – what can you see that a burglar would also see? A nice laptop left on the sofa? A lovely bracelet or ring taken off and left on the windowsill so the washing up can be done? Move them and don’t leave anything on show!
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Also, a very important aspect to think of is how your home appears to passers-by. We have had many instances of rogue traders targeting people whose homes and front gardens look neglected. This presents them with an ideal opportunity to knock on your door and make contact, which in turn can lead to shoddy work being carried out, or no work at all, yet you are made to pay a small fortune. If you do need work doing please refer to Buy With Confidence or Square Deal – great trade directories put together by your local Trading Standards teams. Contact them for a free directory.
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There are many things to consider and it’s not possible to write them all, but more information and advice can be found on the Hampshire police website (under Safety and advice). If you or you know someone who is elderly and/or vulnerable and think they could do with some extra security for their home, you can contact the Blue Lamp Trust on 0300 777 0157, where they will send an assessor out to carry out a home security check, and fit security devices and locks free of charge.