Distraction Burglary
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Titles:
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Burglary prevention advice for autumn/winter
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The heat is on - burglary prevention advice for summer
- Not under the mattress!
- Boxing Clever at Christmas
- Bogus callers don't like door chains
- Doorstep callers
Crime prevention advice for autumn/winter
Autumn is upon us and winter draws near so it is high time to think how you can stop yourself becoming a victim of crime during the shorter days and longer nights. Traditionally during autumn and winter, the Police see a rise in crime, especially when the clocks go back. So what can you do to reduce the chances of becoming a victim?
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Use time switches to turn on lights & radios etc, especially if you are out for the evening. Remember with a light on and the radio/TV playing to give the impression the house is occupied and is less likely to be targeted.
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Ensure that your house is protected by adequate locks to the front door, back door and windows. Ideally the doors should have 5 lever mortise dead locks that comply with British Standards. This is a condition of your house hold insurance. For those with UPVC doors and multipoint locking systems please check with your insurance company. You don’t want to be caught out.
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Get a letterbox deflector fitted to your door. This reduces the opportunity for offenders to use their hand or an implement to operate the door lock, to ‘fish’ for keys that have been left nearby or to look through the letterbox & see who is in the house.
The heat is on - burglary prevention advice for summer
Houses in the UK are not traditionally equipped with air-conditioners and temperatures can soar up to 30 degree centigrade it is tempting to leave the doors and windows ajar to let the breeze in but a cool breeze may not be the only thing you invite into your house.
Unwelcome guests - bogus callers, opportunistic and sneak-in burglars could enter your property. It is important to be extra careful during the summer months due to the seasonal increase in burglaries. In three out of 10 burglaries, they don't even have to break-in - they gain entry through an open door or window.
Simple precautions will prevent you from being a target;
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Check gates and fences, as an open or unlocked gate or even a broken fence can be seen as a temptation to a potential thief.
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Burglaries have been known to take place when the homeowners are in. Make sure that you always keep the windows and doors fully locked particularly in an unoccupied room, especially when out in the garden.
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Another simple way of burglary prevention is to keep desirable items out of view and out of reach to passers-by on the street. Valuables should not be visible from windows and doors in your home.
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The majority of burglaries can be prevented by simple inexpensive methods. Secure the rear of your property with a fence/wall to a height of at least 1.8 metres, a lockable gate to a similar height, if there is a footpath to the rear of your garden increase the height of the fence to 2 metres by attaching a trellis. Thorny hedges could also be planted by your property to deter burglars.
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Consider putting gravel on areas by your windows. The noise produced when stepping on gravel could alert the homeowners that someone is approaching the property.
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Never leave the windows and doors unlocked when you are out. Switch on the lights before you go out at night as this makes the burglars think that the homeowners are in. Time switches can be fitted to operate radios and lights.
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Balmy summer nights are not conducive to sleep. In order to achieve the optimum comfort and ventilation, one has the propensity to leave the bedrooms' windows wide open. Windows should be left on the catch if they have to be kept open during the night. Otherwise, it is best to keep them locked securely. And switch the burglar alarm on before you go to bed.
Even during the summer months, it is wise to be alert. This will save you from being hot and bothered later.
Not under the mattress!
Most people who call at your home will be genuine. But sometimes people turn up unannounced and use a variety of stories to gain access to your home with the intention of stealing your money and valuables. These people are known as bogus callers or distraction burglars.
Bogus caller crime can be committed against anyone but the majority of victims are older and vulnerable people. Many of the victims are from a generation that likes to pay money on demand; they distrust banks and have never had a bank account. The concept of handing their cash into a bank in exchange for a slip of paper may seem alien to them. They often feel it is "safe" to keep large sums of money and valuables in their homes. This system of saving makes them more vulnerable to falling prey to professional criminals.
Offenders know that many older people keep cash (even life savings) in their house. And hiding places are limited and predictable - under mattresses, in jewellery boxes or in biscuit tins. The occupant does not have to be distracted for long to allow an accomplice to find the money and get out again. Some victims have lost all their life savings, others have had thousands of pounds stolen.
The offenders' way of working varies greatly, from claiming to be a representative from the council or a utility company to posing as a tree surgeon or a roof repairer. If an older person pays for property repairs with cash, the offender presumes there is money in the house and this information can then be traded with other criminals. Between themselves, they repeatedly do this until they bleed the victim dry. In some cases, a victim was visited 14 times by different groups in a single year.
Bogus callers are often part of a highly organised, professional criminal fraternity. They trick their way into people's homes, steal valuables and share information with other criminals on the locations and addresses of their victims. They look for areas with high concentrations of the elderly, and identify potential victims. Bogus callers are looking for the biggest possible gain for the least resistance and hold myths about the older generation - for example they believe that all older people keep money in their homes and that older people will not make good witnesses due to failing eyesight and memory.
To safeguard their savings, older people who keep their money in their homes should be encouraged to open a bank account. Banks, Building Societies and Post Offices are safe places to keep money. Telephone banking has made lives easier for those who suffer mobility problems, and those who live in remote areas. Although their money may be less convenient to access, it is sensible to store it securely rather than risk losing it all to an unscrupulous thief. The money will earn interest, and the older person will gain a good night sleep.
Boxing Clever at Christmas
Christmas is upon us once again. Whilst crime prevention may not be top of your agenda at this time of year, it can do no harm to give people a timely reminder on the subject of how to reduce the chances of becoming a burglary statistic.
Thieves unfortunately do not take a holiday over the festive period, on the contrary they will still be out there looking for an opportunity to steal.
When you are out Christmas shopping, be mindful that when you’ve got too much to carry and you go back to the car, ensure that everything is locked away and out of sight in the boot.
At home, presents under the Christmas tree and in view from a window, may well attract unwanted attention, be discreet as to where they are left.
Once the presents have been opened think about what you are going to do with the packaging of expensive items such as computers or hi-fi’s. Just putting them outside the front door next to the bin can be a dead give away as to the rich pickings to be found indoors. Put this in conjunction with the fact that many of us will be out visiting friends and relatives over the holiday period and the house will be left unoccupied, opportunist criminals may well be tempted.
The safe option is to dispose of the boxes by other methods, perhaps take the councils recycling depot or break them up and put them in the refuse bin. Don’t forget to give your house that lived in look if you go out, timer switches on lights, a car on the drive, can help give the impression that some one is at home.
This message is not in any way meant to be alarmist as burglary is thankfully on the decrease, the advice if heeded, is intended to keep it that way.
May we take this opportunity to wish all the members of Neighbourhood Watch a crime free Christmas and a happy prosperous New Year.
Bogus callers don't like door chains
When people answer the door they do a number of different things. And different people do different things. What do you do and why?
The Home Office recommends that when at home or away - keep all doors locked, and when you answer the door you:
STOP and think; are you expecting anybody? Do they have an appointment?
CHAIN the door. Secure the door bar or chain before opening the door.
CHECK and double check the caller's ID.
Door bars or chains are really useful in dealing with callers. A chain allows you to open the door wide enough to be able to see the person or people outside. You can talk to them and if they have an identity card, they can hand it to you. When you use one it means that a caller cannot easily push their way into your home.
So, if you do decide to open the door to a caller, put the bar or chain on first, and then open the door as far as the chain will allow. When you talk to the person or people outside, if you are not comfortable about letting them into your home, you can easily and safely close the door and then lock it. If they offer you their identity card you should close the door while you check it; it is not rude or unfriendly to do this and genuine callers will understand.
The door bar or chain is there for you to use when (and if) you decide to open your door. For the rest of the time, whether you are at home or out, you should keep the door locked and the chain off.
Doorstep callers
How do you check that a person who calls at your home is who they say they are? Answer - check their identity card. You can do this by:
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looking up the phone number in the phone book and check it against the card the caller has given you. Do not be tempted to just ring the number on the card as it may be a fake.
Or by
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phoning directory enquiries. It will help to check whether the company is genuine.
Or by
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looking at a recent bill to check the phone number. You should also think about keeping a list of useful phone numbers, like gas, electricity and water services, in a handy place. Many companies now have free phone numbers to help you check the identity of their workers.
Only let callers in when you are absolutely sure that they are genuine. If you have any doubts KEEP THEM OUT
But what should blind and partially sighted people do?
Some utility companies give their staff a larger identification card that they can show to people who find it difficult to read the small card. The writing on the large card is at least size 14 font and the photograph is larger too. You may want to ask your gas, water and electricity suppliers if they use large cards.
The RNIB offers this useful advice in their booklet "Keeping Safe".
When you talk to strangers don't give them personal information and if you are alone, don't tell them this. If you don't know the person at the door, or you are not expecting them then don't open the door.
Insist that anyone who needs to visit you makes an appointment, and that you know the name of the person who will be calling. If someone calls without an appointment, don't open the door. Organise passwords with your gas, electricity and water companies and with anyone else you expect to call.
Sometimes when it's dark or there is noise from the street it can be difficult to recognise people at the door. So, ask your relatives and friends to give you a quick phone call before they visit, and you won’t accidentally let someone else in.
RNIB Helpline 0845 766 9999: www.rnib.org.uk
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