Hampshire Constabulary: Police issue warning about home security in Portsmouth

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Police issue warning about home security in Portsmouth

Press Releases

Published: 29/08/2008

Police in Portsmouth are reminding residents to take care and secure their homes following a number of burglaries in the city.

Though the weather has been in keeping with the ‘traditional British summer’ this year, with grey skies and rain throughout July and August, the temperature is still fairly warm, prompting people to open doors and windows to keep their homes cool.

Opening the entrances to your home can create a welcome breeze, but also puts you at risk of attracting unwelcome visitors.

By leaving doors and windows open, particularly if you have gone out or if you leave them open overnight, you may be risking your belongings if your home is then targeted by opportunist thieves.

Cosham is an area that has seen a number of incidents in recent weeks where offenders have entered properties through insecure doors and windows, and specifically in the areas of Drayton and Farlington, and Paulsgrove.

The peak times have been between midnight and 8am, when many of the occupants are in bed asleep, and most often on weekdays. The items stolen have been either cash or high value electrical goods such as laptops or jewellery, which can be easily carried.

Police are reminding residents of how they can ensure their homes are secured with three simple pieces of advice:

Lock all entrances – leaving open or unlocked entrances creates opportunities to access your home and your belongings. Always ensure they are locked and secure overnight, or if you are going out.

Keep items out of reach – some incidents have involved offenders simply reaching through open windows and taking handbags or items left on counters or windowsills – ensure your things are kept out of sight or away from open doors and windows.

Keep details of your belongings – often people do not record the serial number or details of items such as laptops or mobiles, and they are then much more difficult to trace if they are stolen. Ensure that you keep a log of the details of your personal things so that they are more easily returned if ever stolen and recovered, or mark your belongings with your name and address in a UV pen, making them unmistakably yours.

Inspector Eddie Charlton, who manages the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams in the Cosham area, said, “Many of these types of incidents are avoidable, particularly where windows or doors have been left open and it literally takes seconds for an offender to reach in and grab the nearest item.

“Burglaries are serious incidents that have lasting effects on the victims and we must make every effort to ensure we do not give thieves any opportunities. We will continue working towards reducing the number of burglaries in the city and I would urge all residents to think twice and protect themselves and their belongings, and not put themselves at risk.”

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