Switch on to the dangers of leaving your home in darkness
Light bulb-shaped leaflets are being put through the doors of homes left in darkness as part of a police campaign to tackle burglary during the winter months.
The leaflet says: ‘No lights on!! If we think no one is home, so could burglars.’ Police Community Support Officers and Police Volunteers will be giving out the leaflets from Sunday 27th October 2012, when the clocks go back.
They are an eye catching way of reminding people to leave a light on when they go out during winter evenings or use a light timer which switches lights on when it begins to get dark. The leaflets are part of Operation Dynamo – a Force wide campaign to tackle burglary.
House burglaries across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are at a thirteen year low but year to date figures are showing a small increase of 8% which is 160 offences more than this time last year.
“The dark evenings and nights help burglars because they can easily see which houses are empty. We’d like people to think about using light timers or leaving lights on when they are out to deter burglars from targeting their property. The timers don’t cost much to buy but could save a great deal of heart ache. We know how awful it feels to be burgled which is why we are doing everything we can to tackle it. We are sending crime prevention advice out using the police’s community messaging system Neighbourhood Alert and on Facebook and Twitter so we’d urge people to sign up to those to get the latest information.”
Other things homeowners can do;
- Put timer switches on radios and regularly change the timing. ( Available from NHW at only £2)
- Fit external security lighting such as dusk to dawn energy efficient lighting that will come on automatically as dusk sets in or brighter infrared activated lighting drawing attention to movement.
- Make sure gates or access to the rear of the house are locked.
- Lock sheds, trim overgrown plants, secure windows, use locks and bolts and keep all your keys, out of sight and reach.
- People should also mark their property with their postcode, name and house number and install intruder alarms.
- Join a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and report anything suspicious to the police.
Anyone with information about crime in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland is urged to call Leicestershire Police on 101* or Crimestoppers, which is free** and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.
