Lift the Handle, turn the key

Press Release on behalf of the Community Safety Partnership

27th July 2011

Lift the Handle, turn the key

This is the simple message being given to residents by the Community Safety Partnership to reduce the risk of burglary.

Following the success of Bedfordshire Police’s Operation Peak which aimed to reduce burglaries during the winter months, Central Bedfordshire Council and its partners are now passing on a clear message to communities, ensure your properties are secure all year round.

By securely locking UPVC doors - along with keeping valuables out of sight – burglaries around the area could be prevented particularly as the evenings are getting longer, the weather starting to warm up and people spending times in their gardens thinking their houses won’t be a target.

All too often police get reports of people who have come in from the garden to find someone has slipped through a front or back door and grabbed easily removable items such as handbags or wallets – or even keys along with the family car.

Most thieves are lazy opportunists and if they see a door left wide open, or possibly unlocked with the owner engrossed elsewhere, they will not hesitate to take advantage of the situation.

Another very common method of entry is whereby offenders will smash a window or a pane of glass close to the door lock, reach in and open the front or rear door from the inside. This is made possible if a key has been left in the back of the door, the door only has a simple latch lock and no deadlock, or if a lock exists but is not used.

Whilst it is important to implement measures to protect your property from burglary it is also very important to be able to escape quickly in the event of a fire. Therefore, keep a window key in every room and ensure that door keys are easily accessible near to your front and back doors. You should also develop and practice a fire escape plan for your home and make sure that all members of the household including visitors know how to quickly and safely evacuate the building.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities Services at Central Bedfordshire Council said: "By taking very small and simple steps we can help reduce the amount of burglaries that take place around Central Bedfordshire. The summer is a time when people are out and enjoying the weather, but everyone needs to be vigilant and take measures to ensure that they do not become a victim of crime."

Other ways to deter burglars include:

• Fit outside security lights and put gates across side passages;
• Leave lights and a radio on when you go out;
• Double check fences and boundaries for weak spots;
• Fit security features such as window locks, patio door locks and a burglar alarm;
• Never leave keys under mats and flower pots, it’s the first place burglars look;
• Keep an eye out for strangers in your street, especially if they are selling property door to door. If you are suspicious, call the police; and
• Help protect your neighbourhood by joining Home Watch, or becoming a co-ordinator.

                               

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