Burglary Prevention Advice

Following an increase in house burglaries in Lowestoft recently, Suffolk Police Crime Reduction Officer Bruce Granger offers a few pointers to householders to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim...

Most burglaries are committed by forcing rear windows and doors although offenders may knock on front doors first to ascertain if there is anyone in. Leaving doors or windows insecure, even when in the house, allows the opportunist thief to enter and steal.

If a householder answers the door the offender may use any excuse or story before leaving. If no answer he will go to the side or back of the property and force an entry.

10 TIPS:

1. Keep doors/windows, especially on the ground floor, secured, even when you're in the house or garden.

2. Report any unusual/suspect callers, using 999, and give description/direction of travel and car registration if possible.

3. Prevent access to side/rear of properties by high [min 6ft/1.8metre] fences/walls/gates. Use mortice locks or padlocked bolts on side gates if possible.

Consider increasing the height [i.e. with trellis or a specially designed topping such as PRIKKASTRIP-plastic strip with conical points available from some builders merchants] to make climbing more difficult.

Move wheelie bins and suchlike away from

climbing points [and consider securing with a chain and padlock].

4. DON'T leave keys in window/door locks.

5. Consider add-on window locks on older/single paned windows.

6. Consider fitting a Burglar alarm as a back-up. There are local security companies who will quote for installing or kits are available at D.I.Y.stores [some are wireless and do not need an electrician to fit].

7. DON'T leave garden implements/tools about - ensure all are locked in sheds/garages.

8. Sheds/Garages - fit a battery operated alarm [if no

house alarm] in movement sensor mode [activates if door opened and no code entered] - available at police stations or D.I.Y. stores at minimal cost.

9. GARAGE DOORS [up and over type] -fit a bolt to inside of door into side frame or ground to prevent

access if top catch is slipped.

10. If using a small security safe, ensure it is effectively

bolted into brickwork/concrete and cannot be easily

levered out.

BURGLARIES OF SHEDS AND GARAGES

Sheds and garages are often overlooked when it comes to security but they are increasingly being attacked by thieves.

Not only do they often contain cycles and other property of value but they provide an easy source of tools with which the thief can break into houses.

Here are some simple and inexpensive ways of protecting sheds and garages:-

[1] Sheds - Reinforce the door with a wood panel across the inside.           

 Drill through the door and panel and fit a hasp [for a padlock] by bolting through from the outside and tightening the nut on the inside. [This prevents unscrewing or prising screws off]

Secure with a good quality [preferably closed shackle] padlock.

[2] Garages - Many garages are fitted with "up and over" doors, the catch of which can be slipped to gain entry.

Fit a padlock and hasp to the exterior of door and into the concrete base immediately in front of the garage.

If there is a side door to the garage an alternative is to affix a bolt to the inside of the garage door which slides into a drilled hole in the

runner and frame, using a padlock to prevent the bolt being slid.

The side door should be fitted with a 5 lever mortise lock.

If the garage adjoins the house and an Intruder alarm is fitted to the house, consider extending the alarm coverage to the garage.

Failing that, a shed alarm with a battery operated sensor movement detector can be used on shed or garage doors [available from police stations.

Don't forget to security mark any valuable items with a U.V.pen for identification purposes