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Make sure your Christmas is crime free |
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Dear Resident
Make sure your Christmas is crime free We would like to wish all residents in the county a merry, crime-free Christmas. The festive season is a busy time for everyone, including criminals, so police are offering residents advice on how to keep homes and valuables secure. This year has seen an increase in burglaries during the first week of December, compared to the same period last year, but something as simple as installing a doorbell camera can make a home more secure. Parcel thefts have also tended to rise in December, as online Christmas shopping, replaces Santa bringing gifts down the chimney. Last December parcel thefts were around 30 per cent higher than preceding months. If you are ordering online and won’t be at home to receive the delivery, make sure you provide instructions on leaving the item in a safe place or with a trusted neighbour. If you are shopping on the high street be careful not to leave your gifts unattended and visible in your car, as thieves will be on the lookout for festive freebies. Detective Chief Inspector Grant Finnie, from the constabulary’s Local Policing Command said: “This is a busy time of year for many people, who will be stockpiling gifts and making preparations for the holiday season. Criminals will be on the lookout for opportunities to steal items left on view at home, on the doorstep or in vehicles. “Make sure you keep your home and vehicle secure and track any items you have ordered, to make sure they don’t arrive unexpectedly as thefts of parcels always tend to increase at this time of year.” • Make sure you keep all your gifts in a secure place – don’t leave them in the shed or garage, or on view near windows or doors. • Lock up when you leave – make sure all windows and doors are securely locked when you leave the house or go up to bed. • Security marking and registering your children’s Christmas gifts will help to keep them safe and make them easier to return if they are recovered after being lost or stolen. • When out shopping push your purse to the bottom of your bag and zip it securely, or use a purse chain. Wallets should not be carried in back pockets where they are more at risk of being stolen. • Leaving boxes and packaging of expensive items by your bins will alert burglars that your home is full of valuables. • Consider installing a doorbell camera, internal camera and/or monitored burglar alarm. • Install ‘dusk to dawn’ external lighting and use timer switches in your home to control internal lights, radios and a simulated TV. • Keep keys and valuables secure and out of sight. • Ensure boundary fences are secure with side gates locked. Keep tools and ladders in a locked shed. • Secure bins at night and put garden furniture away for the winter as these can be used by burglars as climbing aids to gain access to upper floor windows. • Ensure your vehicle is locked and remove all valuables, as burglars often check to see if doors are insecure. • Track your deliveries to ensure you or someone else is at home • If you are going to be out, arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home For more advice visit our crime prevention pages. Report crime by: • Filling out our online reporting form at https://orlo.uk/djFo5 • Speaking to an operator in our Force Communications Room via online webchat at https://orlo.uk/bKjAt • Calling our non-emergency telephone number 101 (in an emergency, always dial 999). • Contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
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