As Christmas day fast approaches, we’d like to share a few crime prevention tips that are known to be effective at this time of year. Much is well-trodden advice, but following a few simple rules will always be the best way to ensure a crime-free Christmas for your home and family!
Prepare to stay safe across the festive season
Be secure with festive lighting check for vulnerabilities such as feeding cables through open windows.
Create the illusion of occupancy when you’re away, especially at night. Use inexpensive light timers or a TV simulator to deter would-be thieves.
Dispose of gift packaging carefully – Don’t advertise expensive gifts or purchases.
Away over Christmas? Ask a neighbour to park on the driveway, and be sure to cancel or redirect any deliveries.
Be cyber aware and careful not to advertise your new gifts or trips away on social media!
Store spare keys securely and always use alarms if you have them.
Hampshire officers are appealing for information after the theft of mountain bikes worth £8,500 from outbuildings in the area.
TWO sheds and a garage were broken into in New Milton and Fordingbridge where mountain bikes were stolen worth a combined £8,500.
Police have launched an appeal for information on the raids which happened between 23rd and 28th November.
A Canyon Nerve mountain bike and a black-and-blue Canyon EXDCF worth £1,500 each were taken between 11pm on Tuesday 23rd November and 6am on Wednesday 24th November from Forest Oak Drive, New Milton
Then between 10.30pm and 5.30am overnight on 27th and 28th November, two bikes, including a black Bombtrack gravel cycle worth £3,500, were stolen from Hobart Road, New Milton.
On the same evening, between 11pm and 7am, two bikes including a black carbon fibre cycle with Campagnolo gears valued at £2,000 were taken from Station Road, Fordingbridge
Hampshire officers are appealing for information on the thefts and have asked residents to keep an eye out if they’re offered mountain bikes for sale.
Those with information about the bikes should contact police on 101 quoting the crime reference numbers: 44210472477 (Forest Oak Drive); 44210477726 (Hobart Road); or 44210477748 (Station Road).
If you own a bike, consider police crime prevention advice to:
– Ensure your bike is locked or anchored to an immovable point, even inside your shed or garage.
– Use a D-lock – anything less won’t do.
– If you use Strava or ride tracking apps, make sure your privacy settings are changed so that your start and endpoint aren’t shared; this is your home address and where you probably store your bike.
– Mark your bike by using a property or police-approved forensic marking solution only visible under ultraviolet light.
– Take pictures of the bike, as well as the bike frame number, as this can help police reunite you with your prized possessions if they are recovered.
– Register your bike for free using a property database such as www.immobilise.com
If you’ve bagged a bargain or two during the sales, remember to register them on your Immobilise account. Every item you log creates a unique record of ownership that is instantly searchable by traders and the police helping to protect them. Most consumer electronics have a serial number and are easily logged in just a few minutes.
Most consumer electronics have serial numbers.
To log in and register an item or create a FREE account, please visit: www.immobilise.com
As a tradesperson, your tools are your livelihood. Ensure they are all registered on Immobilise.com; it only takes a few minutes to log a serial number or marking. If the worst happens, being registered is your best chance of getting them back.
Every day Golf clubs like these are encountered. All too often, there is no record of who owns them. Register your clubs using the serial number on the hose/neck, shaft, or sole, or use a marking kit like ImmobiGolf. Registration on Immobilise.com increases the chance of repatriation and may be the difference between a suspect being released by Police or charged with theft.
GOLF CLUBS WORTH £2,500 STOLEN FROM CAR IN DARLINGTON
When thieves are this brazen and not deterred by steel U-locks, warning labels, engravings, and other marks are not going to be a deterrent either. But we can at least leave something in your bike that would incriminate anyone later found in possession of it. ImmobiBike, with its shuttle securely fitted in the seat post, can’t be removed without risk of damage and is easily traceable by police.
A great effort by Bedfordshire Police, Neighbourhood Watch, local councils, and the community sees domestic burglary down by 33% in the area. Stay vigilant and make your homes unattractive to would-be thieves, especially with the darker nights. The link also provides advice from Police to deter burglars.
We hear of increasing cases of tool theft, where traders’ vehicles are targeted for the valuable power tools inside. If you or someone you know works in the trade, please remind them to get their equipment marked and registered on Immobilise.com. It’s completely FREE and adding a serial only takes a few minutes. Together can we help stop criminals from destroying livelihoods and ensure crime doesn’t pay.
Will your bike suffer the same fate? Register it now at Immobilise.com, make sure it has a unique identifier that’s hard to remove and give the police the best possible chance of getting it back to you.
The Met Police recovered these bikes in a raid (Image credit: Twitter/@MetTaskforce)
Don’t be caught out when the clocks go back this Sunday, 31st October.
Autumn is well and truly here; the leaves are turning, and the nights are drawing in. Unfortunately, this time of year provides darkness as cover for would-be burglars, but you can help protect your home from opportunist thieves.
Keep curtains and blinds shut at night!
Make sure valuables are not visible through windows.
If you have a burglar alarm, remember to set it!
Always lock doors and windows even when you’re at home and secure sheds.
If you’re going out, try to make your home look occupied by using devices like timer switches to control lights or a TV Simulator (shop.immobilise.com/tv-sim-burglar-deterrent/) to deter would-be thieves.
The clocks go back Sunday 31st October 2021
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