Burglars – Keep Them Out of Your Home
Police are warning residents to be vigilant and take steps to keep burglars out their homes following 17 burglaries in two weeks in the Spring Bank and Beverley Road areas of Hull, with nine through open windows or doors.
The majority of offences occurred overnight, but there were a small spike in incidents between 1pm and 3pm.
Televisions were stolen in five of the incidents with other electronic items such as laptops, mobile phones and games consoles also being taken. Other easily transportable items such as jewellery, purses and keys were also stolen.
Detective Inspector Grant Taylor said: “Being a victim of burglary is deeply upsetting for the victims and their family. We want to see less offences, but need the public to assist us by stopping sneak-in burglars who target properties with open doors or windows.
“In vast majority of cases the offenders are opportunists walking around residential area’s looking for possible insecure properties. I would therefore urge people to make sure that they always lock doors – whether they are in or not and day or night – and only keep doors or windows open in occupied rooms.”
“As a force we do everything possible to tackle the threat of these opportunist offenders with intelligence led targeted police patrolling, crime prevention and education activity in the community and disruption work with prolific offenders. However all this good work can be undone if people allow offenders into their home via open doors or windows – so please keep your home secure and keep the sneak thief out!”
Our top five tips to Burglars – Keep Them Out of Your Home
1. Make sure your doors and windows are closed and locked when you’re not in the room. Nearly half of all burglaries are down to someone leaving a door or window open.
2. Make sure nothing of value is left on show to tempt thieves into breaking into your property.
3. Take your keys up to bed with you at night.
4. Think about fitting a burglar alarm and security lighting – both to your home and outbuildings. It may be expensive, but they are very effective deterrents and can bring down your insurance costs.
5. Take 5 minutes to set up a www.immobilise.com account and register all you property on-line, as this can support police in recovering stolen goods, returning them to victims and bringing offenders to justice.
The public should call the police if they see people acting suspiciously in their community, if there is a burglary in progress or if they have details about those involved in criminality. This can be done this using 999 in an emergency, 101 in a non-emergency or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
