Holly's Summer Safety Tips

Hello, my name is Holly and I work in the Derbyshire County Council Community Safety Unit, helping to reduce crime and the fear of crime. I want to talk to you today about Burglary, and what you can do to reduce the risk of being a victim of this type of crime.

You may not realise that 35 per cent of all burglaries are crimes of opportunity, where the burglar sees an unlocked door or window and lets themself in. Burglary has seen a reduction since 1995 but this needs to continue, with your support and knowledge of how to keep safe.

Here are the top ten tips to secure your home:

1. Fit strong locks to external doors and windows, and keep them locked

2. Remove keys from inside locks and keep them out of sight, in a safe place

3. Fit sturdy deadlocks to all doors. (British Standard BS 3621)

4. Check that your doors and frames are strong and in good condition. As a guide, wooden doors should be 44mm thick or more

5. Mark your property with a marking pen, this will help Police verify who the owner is, if they recover any stolen property

6. Fit a door chain or bar and door viewer, and use them

7. Don’t hide your spare key in places like the doormat, flowerpot or behind the loose brick – thieves know where to look first

8. Leave your lights on and shut the curtains when you are out at night

9. Fit outside security lighting, with a sensor, to deter a burglar

10. Keep your tools and ladders locked up in a secure place – if it is in a shed, padlock it. Burglars use your tools to break in

Distraction Burglary

This is where a ‘bogus official’ tries to gain entry to your property, to steal items and money from your home. They target elderly and vulnerable adults posing as a utility company and, more recently, builders and mobility companies. They try everything to get into the property and can be very convincing.

They target the elderly and vulnerable because they are more likely to have cash hidden in the property.  Elderly and vulnerable people are seen to be trusting, sometimes leaving doors unlocked and are good mannered, inviting the caller into the home.  Follow these guidelines when dealing with any caller:

• LOCK: Make sure your door is locked when you’re at home and don’t unlock it until you’re sure who is on the other side.

• STOP: If someone appears at your door, and you’re not expecting any visitors, check that all the doors are locked. Look through the spy-hole or the window to see who it is.

• CHAIN: If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first. Keep the bar or chain on while you are talking. (Normally, when the door is shut and locked, leave the bar or chain off, in case you need to get out in an emergency)

• CHECK: Ask for, and double check, their identity card. And if you’re still not sure, ask for a number you can ring to confirm their identity. (Check the number through the phone book as well).  If they can’t show you any identification, don’t let them in.
  

What can you do?

Be part of the Neighbourhood Watch schemes, to help the local residents and work together to reduce the risk of burglary in the area. If you are not aware of this in your area, set one up.

If you are over 60 and vulnerable, or know someone who is, contact the HandyVan scheme (opens in a new window) for information and free security measures. Call 08456 058058 to find out more about this service.

Finally, speak to your local Community Safety Partnership if you want to help to keep burglary down.  See what schemes are in place, as there may be a scheme you can benefit from.

Remember…

A burglar only needs to spot an open window, unlocked side gate or a cheap lock in order to make their move. Think about it – if you know your home security looks weak, so will a thief.

Many crimes are crimes of opportunity. Don't give thieves that chance. Working together, we can stop them.

Burglaries in Derbyshire are very low compared to other areas and, with your help and support, the fear of crime will lessen.