Help the Police to help you prevent burglary
Essex Police continues to crack down on burglary. We really do understand just how financially costly and emotionally devastating for victims and their families such crimes can be. We see it first hand.Remember though, by taking just a few simple measures you can dramatically reduce the chances of it happening to you.
Most burglaries tend to be opportunistic, rather than planned. So if your home does not look secure, seems unlived in, or provides unobserved access, it could be at risk. Understanding what burglars look for when choosing their target will help you identify weak spots in your home's security.
Top Tips:
- Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house, or flat number or the first three letters of your house name.
- Do not leave your car keys or ID documents near doors, letterbox or windows.
- Always check who’s at the door and don’t open it if you feel anxious.
- Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you are only going out for a few minutes.
- Keep your valuables out of sight.
- Leave some lights on if it will be dark before you get home.
- Install a visible burglar alarm. Your Police Crime Reduction Officer will be able to advise.
- Always keep sheds and outbuildings locked.
- Cancel milk or other deliveries if you will be away for days or weeks at a time.
How does a burglar's mind work?
Burglary, on the whole, is an opportunist crime. A burglar will select his target because it offers him the best opportunity to carry out his crime undetected and with the fewest number of obstacles in his
way. A building that presents itself as unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secured:
- Side gates open
- Accessible windows open
- Ladders left out, allowing access to otherwise inaccessible windows
- Garden tools available to force entry
- Untrimmed hedges or high fences preventing natural surveillance particularly from the front
Residents of multi occupancy dwellings or flats should be mindful never to grant entry to people via an entry phone system, if they do not know them, and to be cautious of people seeking to 'tailgate' them into buildings.
How can they tell if you are in or not?
- Milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep
- Newspapers and mail in the letter box
- Unlit houses after dark
- All windows shut in very hot weather
These are signs telling the burglar that he is unlikely to be disturbed in the course of his work. Naturally, circumstances may arise when such situations may be unavoidable. If we can take measures that tell the burglar that this building is too difficult or too risky a target, he will hopefully move on.
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| Tony Ellis - QR Contact Details |
Tony Ellis
Crime Reduction Officer
Epping Forest Police
0300 3334444 ext. 319383
