Here are a few useful tips to ensure your home is protected when you are away:
Out for the evening?
- Lock all doors and windows, set your burglar alarm, lock the shed/garage and put all your tools away.
- Leave lights on (not hallway) and a radio (on a talk programme rather than music)
- Disconnect telephone answering machine, or re-word the greeting message to give the impression that you are only temporarily unable to answer the call.
- Consider moving enticing items such as televisions, DVDs etc so that they are out of sight.
The arrival of the summer holidays and the forecast of more bad weather means that residents of Hampshire are leaving their homes in search of summer elsewhere.
Hampshire Constabulary is reminding holiday-makers of the need to protect their vacant homes so that they don’t come back to an unwelcome surprise – the misery and inconvenience of burglary.
Hampshire Constabulary has joined forces with travel agencies and post offices to offer advice about how holidaymakers can protect their vacant property when they go away.
Posters and postcards for the campaign carry the message ‘Sun, sea, sand and… empty house’ and give advice on protecting homes while away on holiday. Local Safer Neighbourhoods teams have been supplied with postcards to distribute to their communities to help spread the message about protecting your home while you are away. Posters have been sent to travel agents and post offices across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight so that people will see the advice at the time of booking their holiday, applying for a passport or changing currency.
Hampshire Constabulary is committed to reducing household burglaries. Making sure people have the information to protect them and their home is one of the important ways that police can help reduce the number of incidents.
Hampshire Constabulary’s Safer Homes lead, Detective Chief Inspector Dick Pearson said: “Summer time is when your property is particularly vulnerable to burglary. Hampshire is a very safe place to live and we are determined to make it even safer. However, we do need the help and support of local residents to do this.
“More than half of burglaries occur in vacant homes. Simple preventative measures can easily deter a burglar. Many burglars are opportunists – they will see a vacant home as an invitation to go inside.
“Hampshire Constabulary will do everything it can to bring offenders to justice but if we can prevent it happening in the first place that’s even better.”
Burglary can happen at any time, and to prevent opportunist crimes Hampshire Constabulary offers the following advice.
- Don’t close your curtains in daytime - this shows the house is empty.
- Use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights on when it goes dark.
- Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries.
- Uncollected mail is a sign that you are away. Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service will keep your mail for up to two months while you are away.
- Hide important documents and valuable items, or leave with other family members or in a bank.
- Do not put your home address on the outside of your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination.
- Finally, make sure that you’ve locked all doors and windows and, if you have a burglar alarm, ensure it is set.
Hampshire Constabulary’s Crime Prevention Officers will be happy to give specific advice on preventing burglary. For further information call Hampshire Constabulary on 0845 045 45 45
