30
Jul
2015
By Calvin at 14:51 GMT, 8 years ago
Our friends in Cumbria Police are reminding people in West Cumbria not to be complacent with their security after a recent spate of house burglaries.
THIS MESSAGE IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR!!
Press Release:
Between May 1st and July 27th, there have been 28 burglaries where offender/s have entered the property via an insecure door or window.
The crimes have occurred across the area, with the highest numbers occurring in Workington and Whitehaven.
Key timings for the burglaries have been overnight, specifically between 11pm and 5am Sunday to Monday, between 10pm and 4am Wednesday to Thursday, and between 1am and 8am on Sunday.
Items stolen have included electrical items, purses, handbags and money.
Detective sergeant Mark Cox said: “Even if the sun isn’t shining, the warmer weather means people are leaving their doors and windows open, making it easy for thieves.
“It only takes a few extra seconds to lock the doors and check the windows are closed before you go to bed. But these few extra steps can stop the heartache of finding somebody has been in your home and taken your possessions.
“I urge all residents to make sure their security remains priority throughout the summer months.”
He added:
“Police take house burglaries very seriously and urge the public to report them. They are investigated by detectives and crime scene investigators who are specifically trained to work on this type of crime.”
To pass on information about a burglary please call 101 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A few tips:
Windows: We encourage people to close windows that could allow someone to gain access to their home. When leaving the house, in the garden or going to bed, make sure the windows are shut.
Fit and use good quality locks on downstairs and accessible windows at all times.
Doors: Please remember if you are upstairs or in the garden, don’t leave your front or back door unlocked. There is always an increase in the number of ‘sneak –in’ thefts at this time of year because of doors being left insecure. The county has also seen a recent spate of car key burglaries through letterboxes and insecure doors, with cars subsequently stolen. Don’t make it easy for thieves.
Garden Sheds / Equipment: Fit a good quality lock on the shed door. Gardening tools and furniture are not cheap and are very saleable items for any thief. Remember to lock all tools away after use; they could be used to force an entry to your house. If you leave pedal cycles in your shed, ensure that they are property marked and chained securely to a concrete base or the fabric of the building.
Going away? Speak to your neighbour and ask them to keep an eye out on your house whilst you are away, and then offer to return the favour.
Crime prevention advice can be found at www.cumbria.police.uk/securehome. If you would like to speak to some in person, please ring Cumbria Police on 101 and ask to speak to a Crime Prevention Officer in your area. They will be happy to talk to you about home security.
Throughout the summer holidays tips and reminders about crime prevention will be on Twitter @Cumbriapolice #lockitorloseit and/or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cumbriapolice
Obviously there’s a massive ammount of advice on The Crime Prevention Website too!
