Protect your presents this Christmas
Warwickshire County Council’s Community Safety Team is reminding people to be security conscious in the run up to the festive season.
Town centres are bustling with shoppers and distractions are around every corner, making it the perfect environment for opportunist thieves to catch victims unaware.
The team have come up with few useful tips to help ensure people don’t become a victim of acquisitive crime this Christmas.
When leaving the house:
Close windows and lock doors – in one in three burglaries nationally, thieves didn’t have to force entry in to a home, residents simply left doors and windows open
Make it look like you are in – use automatic timer switches to control lights and a radio when you’re not in to convince a burglar that someone is home
Arm your alarm – if you have a burglar alarm, set it even if you are only out for a few minutes
Don’t leave presents on show – it may be tempting to leave Christmas lights twinkling and display a decorated tree but keep presents and valuables out of sight
Securing your vehicle:
Don’t leave items on show – Thieves may wander round looking for valuables or gifts left on display and can simply smash a window to steal something
Lock your motor – even if you only leave your vehicle for a short time.
Ensure keys are out of sight – don’t leave keys in unattended coat pockets and be aware about dropping keys in to handbags or briefcases - they may still be visible
Keep satellite navigation devices out of sight – these are sought after gadgets and may attract attention
While shopping:
Keep wallets and purses safe – keep them close to your body in an inside pocket or closed handbag for example
Never carry anything indicating your pin number – it is also important to carry chequebooks and guarantee cards separately
Don’t carry around large amounts of cash – use cards or cash points regularly instead
Cllr Richard Hobbs, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, said: “Although it’s the season of good will, shoppers and residents shouldn’t relax their safety precautions because everyone doesn’t share the sentiment.
“Warwickshire is a safe county and crime rates are low but people should never get complacent, so we hope these simple tips will contribute towards everyone having a merry Christmas.“
The risk of becoming a victim is small – but if your valuables do get stolen, it is worth calling the bank or building society straight away to cancel cards and call Warwickshire Police on 01926 415000.