At this time of year with Summer fast approaching many householders make use of the good weather to work in their gardens and house maintenance.
I have listed a few useful tips regarding the safety security of your property to help you avoid being a victim of a property related crime.
Bogus callers and transient workmen.
There is no such thing as a bargain with regards to DIY cheap tarmacading, paving gutter cleaning etc by a “passing builder” “landscape gardener” or other such expert.
Never pay in advance for any work being done to your property.
Get several quotes and check up on the company.
Never give cash especially large sums. It suggests that there may be more in the house.
If you have Elderly neighbours or relatives keep an eye out for strangers or “workmen” hovering about there property. If they are genuine they will be pleased to give their details to you and provide identity.
IF IN DOUBT CONTACT THE POLICE WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE YOU COULD BE THE BEST WITNESS IN PREVENTING A CRIME.
Gardens and sheds.
The garden shed is not an additional room and should only be used to store the minimal of equipment.
You will never be able to make it totally secure but here is some pointers to help
Garden sheds tend to be places where people store items which may not be used for some time or they may be used regularly to store bicycles but in either case the shed and property is often left insecure.
The value of gardening equipment, garden furniture and cycles is usually considerably under estimated. Breaking into garden sheds and theft of garden equipment is a recurring problem especially at this time of year, so please try to ensure that you do not become a victim.
By taking positive preventative measures you can improve the security of your shed and garden
.
What you can do:-
Do not make yourself an easy target by leaving garden equipment lying around and by leaving your shed insecure.
Locks: - Fit a good quality lock to the shed door. The fittings
should be bolted through the door and reinforced at the back with a steel
plate. The hasp should have concealed screws. The padlock should be hardened
steel of the close shackle type
.
Windows: - Once the door has been secured don't forget the
window. Fit an integral mesh grille or curtains to stop opportunist thieves
from looking in
Door hinges: - Most shed door hinges are exposed and can easily
be removed by taking out the screws. Replace ordinary screws with non-return
screws or coach bolts, or for even better security use strap hinges secured by
coach bolts.
Anchor points: - Fit an anchor point to the shed floor using one
way security screws. This will allow you to use a heavy duty security chain or
cable to link items then secure with a quality padlock.
Marking Property: - All of the property in your shed and for that
matter your house should be marked with your postcode and house number, to make
it identifiable as yours. This can be achieved in a number of ways, from
engraving to paint pens. UV marker pens are cost effective and can be purchased
from local stationary suppliers as well as from your local Community Safety
Unit.
Lighting: - Any lighting installed around your property should
serve to reassure you and not to annoy your neighbours. Make sure that lights
are properly adjusted to cover only your property. Dawn to dusk and PIR
activated lights can be used to afford good levels of protection.
Perimeter protection: - The importance of preventing prowlers
accessing your garden is obvious. No-one wants to live with a back garden that
resembles a high security compound with barbed wire and high fencing but your
garden should be enclosed to make it secure. Fences and hedges should be
maintained in good order. Make sure that any gates that give access to rear
gardens are the same height as any adjacent fence or hedge and that they are
fitted with a good quality lock to prevent any unauthorized access.
Fence toppings can be fitted to avoid climbing over. Fit trellis work which is more fragile than the fence structure itself.
Planting: - Growing dense or prickly plants along the fence,
around drain pipes and under ground floor windows is an effective visual and
physical barrier. They can slow down or deter unlawful entry and can add colour
to your garden while improving your security
Alarms: - Battery powered alarms are available from DIY stores.
These will emit a powerful audible alarm when the door is opened and can reduce
the risk of burglary. An even better system is to fit a system that will sound
in your house, thus alerting you that all is not well.
A final thought: - Always remember that the tools stored inside
your shed, including ladders etc., may be used by the criminal to break into
your home or maybe even into your neighbour's house. This in itself is an
excellent reason to ensure that they are not accessible to the thief. By
adopting the simple measures outlined here you can reduce the risk of you
becoming another victim of theft. Over 200 sheds and garages were broken into
in the last 12 months in the Inverclyde area. Many of the victims were
underinsured or held no insurance at all.”
Secured By Design, the UK police initiative emphasise that:
‘Many burglaries/housebreakings are opportunist crimes.
Do not be a victim through poor security.’
If you require more information on home or office security, visit Secured By Design’s
Website at
Remember you can always contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Watch out for yourself and you neighbours.
If you would like your property or garden surveyed re security or wish advice on the security of your property or safety issues please contact the Community Safety Department in Inverclyde on 01475 492620 or contact your local office.
Sgt Andrew Wilkinson
Strathclyde Police
Inverclyde Community Safety