Crime Prevention
When out at Night Leave on a Light
Opportunistic thieves prefer to work when they are hidden by the darkness so most burglaries occur at night. This means it's no surprise that the number of burglaries increases as the nights get longer during the autumn and winter months.
By making sure all your doors and windows are always locked, leaving lights and/or televisions on to make your home look occupied when it's not, we can begin to reduce the number of burglaries. Please take the time to read out five top tips below to help tackle this increasing number of burglaries.
Top 5 tips to make your home more secure during the winter months
1. Burglars are less likely to target a home that looks occupied. Use a timer to switch lights on when you're away.
2. Close your curtains and blinds so burglars can't see your valuables through your windows.
3. Lock your sheds and outbuildings – and an outside light can blow the cover of darkness for a would-be thief.
4. Carry out a general security check. It takes no more than two minutes to lock your windows and doors.
5. Dispose of your empty boxes carefully do not leave them outside and advertise to the burglars your new TVs and expensive gadgets.
You can purchase crime prevention items from our reception at Stroud Police Station, Light timers £2.20, Shed Alarms £8.00 and Smartwater £10.50 are just a few of the popular items that we sell. Smartwater is a good way of marking your property with a unique code to you and makes reuniting you with your property easier and thieves don't like it.
Have you also thought about joining a local Neighbourhood Watch group? Essentially it concerns crime prevention but, just as importantly, it involves neighbours working together as a community to make their area a safer place. This in turn instils a sense of security amongst residents, knowing their homes and other property are being cared for by their neighbours. This and an improved social contact are the hallmarks of a successful Watch.
Our Police Community and Safety Officer is Debbie Campbell; email debbie.campbell@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk or ring the non-emergency no '101'.