Guard against burglars over the New Year (From This is Hampshire)
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Guard against burglars over the New Year
11:30am Thursday 27th December 2012 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter
THE police are warning people to protect their homes against burglars over the festive holiday period.
A campaign is warning that burglars are often looking for visible opportunities to take advantage of, such as homes that look unoccupied or packaging left by bins, which suggests new replacements are inside.
As market conditions have changed, so have the items most desired by burglars, which now includes jewellery, cash and high value items such as Smartphones, laptops and tablet computers that can be sold on, rather than bulkier items with less value.
Detective Chief Inspector Darren O’Callaghan, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: “Burglary is a horrible crime which often leaves the victim feeling scared and vulnerable in their own homes.
“If stolen items are not insured, the financial loss of burglary can also increase the emotional strain. A burglary over the festive period would almost certainly perpetuate the impact of this crime.”
He added: “The most effective way to prevent becoming a victim of burglary is simple – secure property properly and remove high-value items from view.”
Other tips include using free websites such as immobilise.com to register items of value; disposing of present packaging carefully; not keeping large amounts of cash at home; and ensuring all doors and windows are locked.
For more crime prevention information, visit hampshirepolice.uk.
