Hampshire Constabulary

Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Petersfield on Monday, April 26.

Between 8am and 7pm an address in Bell Hill was broken into and a television and games console was stolen.

PC Louisa Whatmore, of the Alton Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “This burglary happened during the day and someone may have seen something unusual or some suspicious activity in the area.

“We would ask anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible.

“Residents are reminded to ensure their homes are as secure as possible at all times and should avoid leaving valuable items on view.”

Hampshire Constabulary offers the following Safer Homes advice:

• Keep valuable items out of view – if you have electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds, don’t keep it by the window where passers-by can see it.
• Never leave a key under a doormat or on a string through the letterbox – it’s the first place any burglar will look.
• Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place – burglars will happily use your own garden equipment to break into your home.
• If you’ve taken extra security precautions, let would-be burglars know. If you have an alarm, make sure the box can be clearly seen. If you take part in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, display a sticker in your window, and if you have a dog, put up a warning sign.
• Hide financial documents and keys – if someone does break in you don’t want them to also steal from your bank account or take your car.
• Make sure you secure all your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even if you are ‘just popping out’.
• If you are in the garden or upstairs, make sure your downstairs doors are locked – in the summer burglars can often just open the front door and help themselves.
• Deadlock your doors with the key – don’t just lift up the handle. 
• Make use of all door and window locks fitted in your home.
• Consider getting a letter box deflector.
• Keep house keys upstairs or store them near the door out of sight for easy access in an emergency.
• Keep your car keys away from the front door and store them somewhere safe.
• Keep handbags out of sight.