Hampshire Constabulary has ten timer switches to give away to help residents beat burglars as clocks go back and evenings get darker.
Many homes will be in darkness before residents get home, making it easy for opportunist criminals to spot empty properties.
A few simple precautions will reduce the opportunity for burglars to strike:
- Use an automatic timer switch on an indoor light, either in a room that cannot be peered into from outside, or upstairs. Regularly change the timing on the switch.
- Save energy, and money in the long term, by fitting low energy light bulbs.
- Fit security lighting, either dusk to dawn energy efficient lighting that will come on automatically as dusk sets in, or brighter passive infrared activated lighting drawing attention to movement.
- Put a time switch on a radio – this will give the impression that the house is occupied.
Hampshire Constabulary’s Safer Homes lead, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Fitchet, said: “Lights on in the house need to give the impression that someone really is in, so leaving only a hall or landing light on is not good enough – after all, how many of us spend our evenings sitting on the stairs?
“Usually a living room and a bedroom light will give a good impression that someone is in. It is generally agreed that curtains need to be closed so that lights coming on do not make it easier to see what is available.”
Lighting on its own will not deter a criminal if there are other security weaknesses that could make life easier for an opportunist burglar.
- Take a look around the outside of your home and follow this additional Safer Homes advice:
- Ensure that gates or access to the rear of the house are locked and secure.
- Don’t forget to lock your shed.
- Trim overgrown plants – don’t give burglars a hiding place.
- Secure windows, paying particular attention to those on the ground floor and above flat roof areas.
- Use locks and bolts and keep all your keys, including car keys, out of sight and out of reach.
- Mark your valuables by using your postcode and your house number or name. Some articles are unsuitable for marking so photograph them – with a ruler in view to show scale. Register your valuables on immobilise.com.
DCI Fitchet concludes: “The burglary rate in Hampshire continues to be one of the lowest when compared to similar forces'
“You should feel safe in your neighbourhood and at home, but anything you can do to make sure you are not the next victim of an opportunist criminal looking for an easy job has to be worth doing. Don’t put it off until next winter.”
Further advice can be found by logging on to the Hampshire Constabulary website www.hampshire.police.uk. You can also speak to your local crime prevention officer on 0845 045 45 45.
Further details of the timer switch competition can be found online at www.hampshire.police.uk > Campaigns > Safer Homes. Entrants need to answer a simple question to be in with a chance of winning.
