Turn up the heat on burglars this summer
As summer approaches and temperatures soar, so do the opportunities for quick-thinking thieves.
Sneak-in burglaries are a particular problem during the summer months when people are busy enjoying the nice weather.
In two out of every ten burglaries, the thief does not have to break in because a door or window has been left open.
In many cases the householder is at home or in the garden when the burglar sneaks in.
Last year in Sheffield, there were 65 sneak-in burglaries during May alone.
Sheffield Homes and South Yorkshire Police have joined forces to warn people of the risk of sneak-in thefts, a crime that increases over the summer.
They have issued the following useful hints and tips:
- Lock windows and doors at all times, even if you’re just in the garden or elsewhere in the house
- Fit a good lock on a shed door, preferably with a padlock made of hardened steel
- Consider fitting a shed alarm – these are battery operated and cost around £15 – or include your shed as a zone on your household alarm
- Postcode all property such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and garden furniture by engraving, stamping, painting or using a UV pen
- Never leave items unattended outside your home, especially valuable ones, even if you are just popping into the house
- Pedal cycles in garages and sheds should be post-coded and chained to the superstructure of the building
- Keep shrubs, hedges and large plants cut back as they can provide a screen for thieves to work behind
- Put locks on all your windows, including small ones and skylights
- Tools and ladders should always be locked away or secured when not in use as they can be stolen or used to gain entry to your house or car
- When on holiday, try to get a friend or neighbour to look after the property by drawing curtains, removing post from the letter box and putting lights on and off. Remember to cancel milk and papers
- Under the Good Neighbour Scheme, inform your local police station of your holiday details so they can keep an eye on your home
- Growing prickly shrubs next to your wall or fence would deter most criminals from climbing over
Mark Cowley, Safer Estates Manager at Sheffield Homes, said: “As a company that manages around 45,000 council homes in Sheffield, we have a duty to help our customers protect themselves and their properties.
“Campaigns like this in partnership with South Yorkshire Police will help to make a difference. As the weather is now starting to warm up, we thought it was timely to issue this advice.”
Detective Inspector James Abdy, from South Yorkshire Police, said: “Sneak-in burglaries can be easily prevented. Although the heat of summer makes it tempting to leave doors and windows open, this makes life easy for thieves who will take any opportunity to sneak in and take what they can. We urge you to follow our advice by securing your home and avoid leaving valuables such as bags, car keys, cash and laptops on display. We also usually experience an increase in garden equipment theft through the summer so it’s vital that people secure these items.”
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