With burglaries of dwellings and outbuildings being one of the priorities of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, they are circulating the following crime prevention to help you feel safer:
• Leave a light on in more than one room, such as the lounge and bedroom. Remember to choose low-energy lamps.
• Use a timer switch to operate the lights as it starts to get dark.
• Change the times that the lights comes on to create the illusion that someone is moving around inside the home.
• Consider the use of ‘smart’ technology to have different lights coming on in your house at different times.
• Make sure your front door is well lit and fully visible from the street. Also think about security lighting at the rear and side of your property.
• Keep shrubbery and hedges at the front pruned to below 1 metre to remove cover for a burglar to work unseen and allow visibility by neighbours.
• Consider having a good quality CCTV system installed.
• Keep your curtains closed at night; if you are away, ask a neighbour to close them for you.
• Check existing lighting is in good working order and replace any faulty equipment.
• Remember to check batteries in torches and smoke alarms.
• Lock all windows and doors even when you are at home.
• Put the alarm on even when you go out and at night
• Don’t leave valuables items or car keys on view near your front door
Message Sent By
Anthony Boswell
(Police, PCSO, Derbyshire Dales)