Closing the window of opportunity

A campaign to stop the burglary rate ballooning

If you came home to find a balloon in your house – be thankful it wasn't a burglar.
As part of a campaign to highlight the dangers of sneak-in burglars, police and Citysafe officers have been putting balloons through insecure doors and windows.
"Hopefully the shock of finding a balloon in your house could help prevent the even bigger shock of your possessions being stolen," says Cllr Mike Ross, responsible for community safety at Hull City Council.
"It's about getting the message across to residents how important it is that they protect their property."
The message on the helium balloons, which were delivered in the Newland Avenue area, read: "If I've got in....what could you lose? Laptop? Camera? Mobile? Don't leave your house open to sneak thieves."

Don't let problems blow up

Newland Avenue was the area chosen for the campaign – partly because university students are among residents most likely to leave windows and doors open.
PC Andy Allen, crime reduction officer at Citysafe, said: "Some students are devastated when they return after the holidays to discover valuables have been taken from rented accommodation which was left insecure.
"Our message to all residents is that sneak-in burglars can be in and out of a property within a few seconds and will take anything that is to hand such as handbags, purses, and small electrical items.
"It's important to make sure doors and windows are locked – even if you're in another room." Top tips The advice from Citysafe is as follows:

• when returning home lock your door immediately
• even if you are in the house or garden, keep doors and windows locked
• if a door is your only ventilation and you have to leave it open consider a door chain
• lock your garden gates at all times. Every time you lock a gate, door or window, you are reducing the opportunities available to the criminal
• look at your doors and windows. Make sure you have sufficient quality locks, restrictors and door chains, and don't forget to use them
• make sure you have your postcode and house number marked on your property with UV marker pens or similar.
• record serial numbers, makes and model numbers of all items. Consider taking a photo of your valuables
• burglars are worried when your property can link them to the scene of a crime. Property marking is a deterrent.
• remember untrimmed hedges or high fences prevent natural surveillance and allow the opportunist burglar cover from view
• consider forming a Neighbourhood Watch Group in your area to make a difference to your community. Your local PCSO can advise you regarding getting started
• ensure garages and sheds are fitted with adequate locks and consider installing portable alarms inside them to alert owners to the presence of
• intruders. Replace glass in windows of sheds with polycarbonate sheet that is harder to break
• don't leave items of value on display; keep them away from windows and doors
• if you have to leave the window open for ventilation then consider fitting a window restrictor to prevent the opportunist burglar climbing in. Consider door or window chimes

info

For more advice visit www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk You can take part in the Home Security Challenge by visiting www.homesecuritychallenge.co.uk Citysafe is a crime and disorder reduction partnership made up of organisations including Hull City Council, the police, local NHS, and fire and probation services.