Lock it or lose it

Keep cool this summer - but don't leave windows and doors open to burglars

Hull is a much safer place to live.
All types of recorded crime are falling, and one in particular – domestic burglary – has been reduced by 25 per cent this year.
But during the warm days and balmy evenings of late summer, there is always a temptation to leave a door or window open to cool your home.
And that could be an invitation for a burglar to strike.
"Crime is falling but we must not be complacent," says chief inspector Philip Davies.
"Our priority is to keep your home safe - but we need your help.
We are catching burglars and thieves, but we would rather they didn't have the chance to strike in the first place.
"It takes a second to sneak into your kitchen and steal a handbag or laptop.
It takes a minute for the agile thief to climb a low roof and crawl through the window to steal cash or jewellery."

Pc Trevor Waudby gives crime prevention tips to east Hull resident Dawn Chehreh on how to prevent burglars sneaking into her home

Team effort

Hull City Council, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, and other public sector organisations across the city are working together to reduce crime in the city.
They are all part of Citysafe, Hull's crime fighting partnership, which is aiming to bring further reductions in burglary over the next 12 months.
This will prevent a repeat of the kind of incident which happened to a 77-year-old west Hull resident.
When he walked into his home through the back door he left his wallet on the kitchen table before going upstairs.
While upstairs, a sneak thief walked through the unlocked door and stole the wallet which contained money, two bank cards and a bus pass.
"I'm thankful that I was upstairs at the time because anything could have happened if I'd disturbed the thief," said the man, who asked not to be named.
"I normally lock my door as soon as I get home and I advise others to do the same.
Don't leave an opportunity for thieves to sneak in."

Tips to protect your home

• Always lock your doors and windows, even when just popping to the shops or the back garden
• Fit deadlocks to all outside doors – burglars hate them because you need a key to open them from the inside as well as the outside
• Put key operated locks on all downstairs or accessible windows – burglars don't like smashing windows because of the noise and the danger of cutting themselves
• Try to make sure your television and other valuables cannot be seen from your window. Also don't leave empty boxes of new purchases outside for burglars to see
• Use a timer switch to turn lights and radios on when you are out or away to give the impression that your house is occupied
• Install a visible burglar alarm and turn it on. If you do not have one, consider investing a few pounds in a dummy alarm box
• Fit outside lighting which is activated by a PIR sensor - burglars do not like to be seen
• Restrict access to your back garden with a solid fence and lockable gate
• When going to bed, take house and car keys upstairs so they cannot be used if someone does enter the home. Keep them in a safe place in case of emergency
• Make sure bins cannot be used to climb up to windows

info

If you have been the victim of a sneak burglary or you have information on other burglaries in your area please call 0845 6060 222. For more information on Hull Citysafe please visit www.hullcc.gov.uk