News: Isle of Wight Police remind residents to take simple security precautions over Christmas.

Police on the Isle of Wight are reminding residents to take simple security precautions to protect their homes during Christmas and New Year.

Safer Neighbourhood Inspector Bill Pinnell said: 

“We are reminding householders not to gift easy opportunities to criminals in the run-up to Christmas.

“Often, the simplest measures can be the most effective in making life difficult for burglars and potential thieves.

Image: PCSO Cath Quinn Lights On Campaign 2009.

“I’m asking residents to double check doors and windows are locked properly, and valuable items are not left in places where they can be seen easily from outside.

“The risk of being burgled here is small as the number of house burglaries on the Island has fallen by 40% over the past five years. Nevertheless, we are reminding Islanders not to be complacent at this time of year when many of us are storing Christmas presents at home.

“Officers from the island’s dedicated Safer Neighbourhoods teams are patrolling residential and shopping areas during December to provide crime prevention advice and technology, and deter and catch criminals who have the potential to spoil Christmas for the law-abiding majority.”

Our ‘Lights On’ burglary prevention campaign continues during December. Over 300 timer switches already have been given to residents who are making their homes safer. Please contact us for a timer switch to help deter burglars targeting your property when you’re out. Phone your local Safer Neighbourhoods team on 101.

Police are also reminding homeowners of other simple and innovative security steps to help make homes safer.

•  SmartWater: a non-hazardous liquid, which can be used to mark property, or as a spray to shower intruders when they enter premises protected by the system. Each batch has a unique ‘DNA-type’ forensic code, tying its use to a specific location or item of property. Once a suspect has been sprayed, the SmartWater will fluoresce brightly as offenders walk under ultraviolet lights when they’re brought into custody at police stations.
• For more information, go to www.saferwight.org.uk/, the website for the Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).
• Keep valuable items out of view – if you have electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds, don’t keep it by the window where passers-by can see it. 
•  Never leave a key under a doormat, or on a string through the letterbox – it’s the first place any burglar will look. 
• Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place – burglars will happily use your own garden equipment to break into your home.
• If you’ve taken extra security precautions, let would-be burglars know. If you have an alarm, make sure the box can be clearly seen. If you take part in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, display a sticker in your window, and if you have a dog, put up a warning sign. 
• Hide financial documents and keys – if someone does break in, you don’t want them to also steal from your bank account, or take your car. 
• Make sure you secure all your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even if you are ‘just popping out’. 
• If you are in the garden or upstairs, make sure your downstairs doors are locked – Burglars can often just open the front door and help themselves.

 
Log onto www.hampshire.police.uk, and click on the ‘Safer Homes’ section for more information.