Autumn leaves are turning, the nights are drawing in and the winter coats are emerging. We may all feel like hibernating but for burglars this is an opportune time of year as the darkness is their cover.
It is a national problem and the perpetrators are rarely caught. Of the 44,363 residential burglary cases recorded by police forces across England and Wales between April and June this year, 89.7 per cent ended without a suspect being identified.
To keep you and your belongings safe this autumn and winter, follow a few simple security measures to help protect your home from opportunist burglars.
• Keep curtains and blinds shut at night. Make sure car keys, laptops, tablets, phones and cash cannot be seen through windows.
• If you have a burglar alarm always remember to switch it on when you leave the house or when you go to bed.
• Always lock doors and windows even when you’re at home.
• Make sure any bicycles or outside equipment is locked in a shed.
If you're going out, make your home look occupied by using like timer switches to control lights.
Fake TV is another burglar deterrent that makes it look like someone is home watching television, to deter would-be thieves.
The clocks go back one hour at 02.00 a.m. on Sunday 29th October.
