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Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 Specialist in Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Security Solutions Burglars ransacked bedrooms of elderly man in Bournemouth 17 Mar 2011
evening last Thursday, two youngsters broke into the home of an 81-year-old man in Charminster Road, Bournemouth, Dorset.Described as white in their 20s, the pair knocked on the victim’s back door and when he unfortunately opens, they pushed him to the ground and ransacked the bedrooms before escaping with some shop reward cards, a bus pass and a packaged Tetley’s toy.The BBC reported that although the man was not hurt, he was left “extremely distressed and vulnerable”.If you have concerned about the security on the property of your elders, please consider your security Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 for all your security requirements 15 Mar 2011 Articles According to recent statistics, around 30% of burglars gain access to homes via a window in the UK.As burglary is mainly an opportunist crime, thieves are looking for a quick get in get out opportunity and windows expose the risk of being a target.Securing your windows can be very cost effective with the right knowledge and guidance.It is better to spend money into securing your premises and privacy before being a victim as it is a greater loss after a burglary and you still have to spend money into security.From years of experience and visiting burglary victims regularly, the best way to secure your windows is by installing Door and Window contacts or Shock Sensorsi for perimeter protection with a Burglar Alarm Motion Sensor pointing at the windows. In case someone breaks the window to get in, the alarm will go off, creating attention and he still has to get through a security product. This makes it rather impossible to gain access into your premises. Contact Affinity One Securty Solutions for more information on Tel No 08000 336 999for all your security requirements Remember it is always recommended to shut and lock your windows even when you are out for few minutes, prevention is better than cure
Burglars target Bassetlaw Hospital of Nottinghamshire
10 Mar 2011 Investigation is being carried out by police following a series of burglaries at the local hospital in Nottinghamshire.The latest burglary attempt was on Saturday when burglars stole staff laptops and computers.The clinical therapy department was shut down for a short period of time during the last incident and police stated that the burglars escaped after being disturbed.A spokeswoman from the hospital stressed that the computers did not store any patient details.Another spokesperson further added: “These burglaries have been a major disruption to staff and the patient care they provide. We urge anyone with any knowledge of these crimes to report them to the police as soon as possible.Aside from the value of the equipment stolen, the impact of the burglaries has a disruptive effect on the day-to-day running of parts of the hospital. We are urging anyone who has seen suspicious activity around the hospital grounds to report it to us.Sgt Neil Bellamy, of Nottinghamshire Police commented. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 for all your security requirements
Thieves burgled two shops in one attempt in Chesterfied 9 Mar 2011 A large quantity of Jewellery has been stolen following a break in through a next door store inDerbyshire.Burglars broke into Identity Hair and Beauty on Cavendish Street in Chesterfield by removing tiles from the store roof and then removed part of the wall to gain access to the neighbouring jewellery shop, E Hagg and Sons Jewellers.Stealing money from the safe in beauty shop and a large amount of jewellery from the Jewellers, the burglars have caused a lot of distress to the local business last Monday.Three distinctive 24 carat gold Chinese ducklings with painted eyes were also taken away during this burglary.Police have appealed for anyone with information about the burglary, or who might be offered jewellery, to contact them Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 for all your security requirements Fight Burglary Contact Affinity One Security Solutions 08000. 336. 999 Affinity One Security Solutions is dedicated to fight crime in your area. We feel the best way to tackle the problem is to talk about it, loud. Most a times, burglary is an opportunist crime and by letting everyone know what's happening in an area, this will help to build a more careful and cautious mind. This way we are not only helping ourselves, but also our neighbours and the community living around us, which on the whole, a safer neighbourhood. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 for all your Home or Commercial Burglar Alarm,CCTV,Door Entry or Security requirements |
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Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 Specialist in Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Security Solutions Affinity One Security Solutions
Tel 08000 336 999 Specialist in Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Security Solutions BURGLARY:PRACTICE MESSAGES FROM THE BRITISH CRIME SURVEY July 20011. A Publication of the Policing and Reducing Crime UnitHome Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate4th Floor, Clive House, Petty France, London SW1H 9HD1 The recorded crime figure for 1999 is an estimate based on counting rules SummaryThis report draws on data from recent sweeps of theBritish Crime Survey (BCS), presenting those findingsthat have implications for the reduction of domestic
burglary. Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999
The report:
Identifies areas and households with particularlyhigh risks of burglary victimisation;_ considers the extent of repeat victimisation;_ examines how burglars gain entry to homes;identifying the highest risk households and highburglary areas. Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 The BCS shows what types of household and area aremost at risk of burglary nationally. Assuming localpatterns reflect the national picture, the BCS findingsare a good indication where to begin looking for localproblems. Practitioners should be aware that justtargeting high-risk areas will neglect individualhouseholds at high risk in areas of generally low risk.Conversely, just targeting households whosecharacteristics make them vulnerable would neglecthouseholds whose characteristics would mean that theywere at little risk, were it not for the fact that they arelocated in high crime areas. Thus local strategies needto respond to the risk picture as a whole, giving attentionto both individual and area risks. Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 Households at risk For example, students suffer just over doublethe national rate with 13 burglaries per 100 studenthouseholds. Households of these types merit attentionin any burglary reduction programme aspiring to becomprehensive. Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 Historically, it has been difficult for the police, havingrecognised the existence of high-risk groups, to locatethem efficiently. Some types of high-risk household remaindifficult for the police to identify. Partner organisations maybe able to help in this respect. Providers of tertiaryeducation can identify student households, while Localauthorities and housing associations may aid theidentification of social housing. S115 of the Crime andDisorder Act 1998 was intended to facilitate the exchangeof information in the pursuit of crime reduction. Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 Identifying areas The BCS is able to indicate what types of area are mostlikely to have a high burglary rate. Thus, althoughanalysis of specific areas with chronically high rates ofburglary is best done locally, the BCS can suggest thearea characteristics usually associated with high rates.Using the well-known ACORN area classification (seeBox 3) the BCS indicates types of area with particularlyhigh domestic burglary risks. Those with risks betweentwo and three times the national average are listed inTable 1, which shows the number of burglaries per 100households and how much they differ from the nationalaverage. For instance, areas characterised by councilflats and high levels of unemployment had 23.2burglaries per 100 households, or just over three timesthe national average (indexed risk in Table 1).Using ACORN to identify high-risk areas is an approachto consider. The commercial supplier of ACORN (seeBox 3 for contact details) can identify the ACORN typesof enumeration districts in police force areas. This couldindicate geographic areas where risks are likely to behigh. Alternatively, police forces may feel that Table 1 ofitself gives enough information to choose areas to checkagainst the national experience reflected in BCS.Households within areasBoth household and area characteristics are associatedwith levels of burglary risk. Further analysis of BCS datahas indicated that while crime risks are relatively evenlyspread across different types of household in affluentareas, in poorer areas crime risks are higher for themore affluent households within the area (see forexample, Trickett et al., 1995). Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 Targeting those at risk BCS findings provide some guidance as to where localproblems may be concentrated. However, the results donot indicate why such households or areas have higherrisks. It is important to establish what factors are mostinfluential in increasing risk in considering the design ofan effective burglary reduction initiative. For example,low-income households may be at risk because of poorsecurity levels, some council properties may have weakdoors or windows, while the layout of terraced housingFigure 1: Households at high risk of burglary in 1999 _ evaluates the effectiveness of home securitydevices.The findings are directly relevant to police and crimereduction partnership practice, in that they identifygroups and circumstances which could profitably act asthe focus for local analysis and prevention priorities.Much of the statistical information in this note wascontained in the main report on the 2000 British CrimeSurvey (BCS – see Kershaw et al. (2000)), but heremore explicit links are made between BCS results andimplications for local crime reduction practice.Analogous notes on violence (Mattinson, 2001) andvehicle-related thefts (Kinshott, 2001) have also beenpublished. Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 The BCS asks respondents whether they or theirhousehold have been a victim of crime since thebeginning of the previous year. The BCS includes, inaddition to crimes recorded by the police, those notreported to the police or recorded by them. It thusprovides a more complete picture of domestic burglarythan police figures alone and is important in showing towhat extent changes in the level of recorded burglaryreflect changes in rates of reporting or recording. TheBCS estimates that a quarter of burglaries with entry anda half of attempted burglaries were not reported to thepolice in 1999. Box 1 provides further information aboutthe BCS. For more detailed BCS domestic burglaryresults see Budd (1999) and Kershaw et al. (2000). Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 How big is the problem? Burglary is a high volume crime, affecting around one intwenty-five households annually. The BCS estimatesthat there were 1.28 million domestic burglaries inEngland and Wales in 1999, almost one in ten of thecrimes measured by the survey. Of these, just over500,000 were attempts. In about 750,000 cases entrywas gained, including 540,000 incidents where propertywas stolen. Property stolen was worth £680 million.The number of domestic burglaries has fallen in recentyears, reversing the increases of the 1980s and early1990s. The BCS estimates a 27% fall between 1995 and1999, while police recorded crime figures show a fall ofabout 30% over the same period.1 The Government hasset a target of a 25% reduction in domestic burglarybetween 1999 and 2005. Details of the Home OfficeReducing Burglary Initiative are given in Box 2. Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999 Identifying those at high risk Less than 1% of households in England and Walesaccounted for 42% of all burglaries in 1999. It is clearlycost-effective to target burglary reduction initiatives onthose most at risk, and this targeting will form anelement of many successful burglary reductioninitiatives. There are several approaches which policeforces and crime reduction partnerships may choose toadopt in identifying high-risk households._ One approach is to identify localities where the riskof burglary is high and to target crime reductionmeasures on all households in the identified areas._ A second approach is to identify the types ofhousehold at high risk and target only these,wherever they are. An example of such ‘virtualcommunities’ would be student households.
_ Combining both approaches would involve Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999
for example, public alleyways at the rear of properties)may make life easier for the burglar. An evaluation ofhousing estates in West Yorkshire indicated that estateswhich adopted Secure by Design standards (forexample, minimum levels of physical security,maximising natural surveillance, and minimisingaccess/egress points) had lower incidence of recordedcrime than other estates (Armitage, 2000). Tackling repeat victimisation One of the best predictors of the risk of a householdbeing burgled is whether it has had a burglary in therecent past. Prior victimisation is particularly usefulbecause this is information that the police acquireroutinely. Action in the wake of a burglary combineselements of both victim support and targeted crimeprevention. This action does not have to be restricted tothe burgled home, since there is recent evidence (Shawand Pease, 2000) that elevated risk of burglary isshared by approximately three homes on either side ofa burgled dwelling.The BCS shows that a fifth of burglary victims in 1999had been burgled at least once before in the same year;7% had been burgled more than twice in the year. This islikely to be a much higher figure than the police knowabout because of unreported burglaries. The practicalimplication here is that the first officer attending a burglaryincident could profitably ask whether previous crimes hadbeen committed against the same dwelling, or againstoccupants in ways which might be linked to the burglary.Research has indicated that victims are most likely to bere-victimised shortly after the first incident (Polvi, 1991,Robinson, 1998). It also shows that offenders whocommit repeated crimes against the same target are ingeneral more prolific offenders (Everson, 2000; Eversonand Pease, 2001) This adds to the case for targetingsuch offences and increased efforts in detecting thosewho commit them. Pease (1998) reviews the crimeprevention implications of repeat victimisation.Repeat victimisation offers a prime opportunity forhighly targeted burglary reduction initiatives. Strategiesinclude (see Farrell et al., 2000):_ Crime prevention officers advising victims onsecurity improvements, for example, upgradinglocks or removing trees or shrubs that give anoffender cover._ Guidance being given to neighbours about theneed for extra vigilance, and the concentration ofpolice patrolling around the burglary site for somedays or weeks after a crime._ Fitting covert alarms to victimised households inorder to alert the police if there is an attempt toburgle the home again. This could assist in theapprehension of prolific burglars, if the police areable to respond quickly enough. However, thisapproach does require householders to be leftvulnerable for a period to be effective. Modus operandi Establishing how burglars operate is particularlyimportant in terms of advice about crime preventionmeasures. It may also provide a baseline against whichto measure local experience, including prolific offendersusing unusual techniques. The BCS paints a nationalpicture - but the findings provide useful pointers for localaction.When burglaries occurThe BCS suggests that burglaries are as likely to occurat weekends as during the week.2 Weekend burglarieswere most likely to take place during the evening ornight (6pm to 6am) – two-thirds did so. Weekdayburglaries were more evenly spread – around a half tookplace during the morning or afternoon and a half in theevening or night. Burglaries were more likely to result insuccessful entry if they occurred during the day. 68% ofdaytime burglaries resulted in entry, compared with 55%of burglaries that took place during the evening or night.Method of entryIn most burglaries where entry is gained, the offenderuses some form of force. The BCS estimates that:
ACORN area Incident rate per Indexed risk 100 households Affinity One Security Solutions Tel 08000 336 999
Council flats, very high unemployment, singles 23.2 3.1Multi-occupied terraces, multi-ethnic areas 23.0 3.1Council areas, high unemployment, lone parents 21.3 2.8Academic centres, students and young professionals 19.7 2.6Council flats, greatest hardship, many lone parents 18.4 2.4Furnished flats and bedsits, younger single people 18.2 2.4Council areas, residents with health problems 15.5 2.1National average (1995, 1997, 1999) 7.5 1.0Note: References Armitage, R. (2000). An Evaluation of Secured by Design Housing within West Yorkshire. Home Office Briefing Note7/00. London: Home Office.Budd, T. (1999). Burglary of Domestic Dwellings: Findings from the British Crime Survey. Home Office StatisticalBulletin 4/99. London: Home Office.Curtin, L., Tilley, N., Owen, M. and Pease, K. (2001) Developing Crime Reduction Plans: Some examples from theReducing Burglary Initiative. Crime Reduction Research Series Paper 7. London: Home Office.Everson, S. (2000) Repeat Offending and Repeat Victimisation. Unpub PhD thesis, Univ. of Huddersfield.Everson, S. and Pease, K. (2001). ‘Crime Against the Same Person and Place: Detection Opportunity and OffenderTargeting’. In Farrell, G. and Pease, K. Repeat Victimisation. Monsey NY: Criminal Justice Press.Farrell, G., Edmunds, A., Hobbs, L. and Laycock, G. (2000) RV Snapshot: UK Policing and Repeat Victimisation.Crime Reduction Research Series Paper 5. London: Home Office.Kershaw, C., Budd, T., Kinshott, G., Mattinson, J., Mayhew, M. and Myhill, A. (2000) The 2000 British Crime Survey:England and Wales, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 18/00. London: Home Office.Kinshott, G. (2001). Vehicle Related Thefts: Practice Messages from the British Crime Survey. Briefing Note 6/01.Home Office: London.Mattinson, J. (2001). Stranger and Acquaintance Violence: Practice Messages from the British Crime Survey.Briefing Note 7/01. Home Office: London.Pease, K. (1998). Repeat Victimisation: Taking Stock. PRG Crime Detection and Prevention Paper 90. London:Home Office.Polvi, N. (1991). The Time Course of Repeat Burglary Victimisation, British Journal of Criminology, 31: 411-414.Robinson, M. B. (1998) Burglary Revictimisation: The Time Period of Heightened Risk. British Journal of Criminology,38, 78-87.Shaw, M. and Pease, K. (2000). Repeat Victimisation in Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.Trickett, A., Osborn, D. R., and Ellingworth, D. (1995). Property Crime Victimisation: the Roles of Individual and AreaInfluences, International Review of Victimology, 3: 273-295. Acknowledgements Thanks are also due to colleagues within RDS and Prof. Ken Pease of Huddersfield University who providedvaluable comments on an earlier drafts of this note.Papers in the Police Research, Reducing Crime, Special Interest Series and other PRC ad hoc publications are availablefree of charge from: Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, Communications Development Unit,Room 275, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT. Facsimile no 020 7222 0211
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Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Burglar Alarms,CCTV and all security solutions Burglary prevention This advice on preventing burglaries comes from the Metropolitan Police.The best way to protect your house from a burglar is to think like a burglar. How does a burglar's mind work? Burglary on the whole is an opportunist crime. A house will be selected if it offers the fewest number of obstacles to carry out the crime undetected.
An unoccupied and insecure building is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secure. If you can take measures that tell the burglar that this building is too difficult or too risky a target‚ he will hopefully move on.
Signs of an unoccupied building· Milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep · Newspapers and mail in the letter box · Unlit house after dark · All windows shut in very hot weather Signs of an insecure building· Side gates open · Accessible windows open · Ladders left out‚ allowing access to otherwise inaccessible windows · Garden tools available to force entry · Untrimmed hedges or high fences preventing natural surveillance The signs above could make the burglar want to take a second look. If you live in a multi-occupancy dwelling‚ be careful to who you allow entry through an entry phone system and be wary of people seeking to "tailgate" you into the building. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Don't leave a thief the key to your house· Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door - burglars know all the hiding places · Prevent letterbox burglaries by storing keys away from the font door · Do not label your house keys in case you loose them and they fall into the wrong hands · Where possible‚ try to keep valuables out of sight from windows and fit a security light over your front door so there is no place to hide Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar How to make your house look occupied· Install timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically · Have a neighbour or friend pop round to clear your letter box or doorstep · Encourage a neighbour to park on your drive If you are going out after dark‚ draw the curtains‚ leave some lights on and a radio playing Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar If you are away for extended periods· Cancel the delivery of milk and newspapers · Disconnect the answering machine‚ or re- word your greeting message to give the impression that you are only temporarily unable to answer · Get a neighbour‚ friend or relative to keep a regular eye on your property and keep the front door clear of deliveries · If you are prepared to leave a key with a willing neighbour/relative‚ ask for curtains to be drawn and lights to be put on at night: if snow is on the ground‚ a few footprints will make the house appear inhabited · Check your insurance policy: some insurance policies for contents don't cover you if you are away for more than 30 days · Set your burglar alarm · If you do not have an alarm‚ consider investing in a dummy alarm box Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Bogus callers Older people are less likely than any other age group to be victims of crime. But there is one one type of criminal that target older people: bogus callers.Also known as distraction burglars, they trick their way into people’s homes to steal money and valuables while the householder’s attention is elsewhere.
Most callers are genuine and mean you no harm but bogus callers can often seem very plausible and will try to fool you. Follow our advice and keep yourself safe and secure at your door. You can download our guide, Avoiding scams, which covers bogus callers, internet fraud, competition scams etc from the box on the right. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Password scheme All electricity‚ gas and water companies have a doorstep password scheme. If you haven’t already done so‚ set up a password with each of them, choosing passwords that are unique and that you will remember. When a representative calls they will give you this unique password to confirm they are legitimate.Keep the passwords out of sight but where you can easily find – if you need to fetch it‚ close the door first. If you print out this page or the corresponding booklet, there is space to write down the contact numbers and passwords. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Safety and security in your home Use a door chain and‚ if you can‚ a spy hole. This makes it easier for you to identify who is at the door without fully opening it. If you do not currently have a chain or spy hole, arrange to have them fitted. Our HandyVan scheme will fit them free of charge if you qualify, or your local Age UK group may be able to help you find a handyperson who can do this for you.Valuables and moneyDo not keep large amounts of money in the house. It is safer in a bank or building society account. Do not leave money lying around where it is visible from outside or where it can be easily found.Do not leave valuable items in view or where they can be easily found. Items of sentimental value‚ such as jewellery‚ may also be those that most appeal to burglars. It may be worth getting a small safe for your home. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar What to do when someone calls Before you go to the doorClose and lock the back door and any accessible windows before you go to the front door.Bogus callers often work in pairs. One of them will try to keep you talking at the front door while the other tries to get in through the back door or a window.Look through your spy hole or windowTry to check who a caller is before opening the door. Don’t let any caller pressure you into making a quick decision - if you are unsure‚ do not open the door.Put your door chain onBefore you answer the door, put your door chain on and keep it on while you check the callers’ identity. If you want to check with their company, keep the door chain on‚ tell the caller you are going to call their company and close the door. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Check the caller is who they say they are A genuine caller will not object to you leaving them on the doorstep and closing the door while you confirm their identity‚ even if it is raining.If the caller says they represent an electricity‚ gas or water company or another organisation such as the council or a charity, follow the checklist below to check that a caller is who they say they are.Ask for the password
If you have set one up with the company, use it.Does the caller have an identification card?
If the caller does not have an identification card‚ ask the caller to go away and close the door. If the caller persists‚ dial 999 and ask for the police.If the caller does have an identification card, ask to see it:· Examine the card to see if it looks genuine · Check the expiry date - is it still valid? · Does the photograph on the card match the person at the door? · Check the photograph is the original – has anything been stuck over it? · If you want to call their company, do not use the telephone number on the caller’s identification card - if the identification card is not genuine then the telephone number on the card will not be genuine either · Find the telephone number in your phone book, on a bill or call directory enquiries · Ask the company to confirm they have sent someone out to you. They will ask you for information about the identification card, what the caller looks like and may also ask for the date of birth or password of the caller. · If you need to get more information from the caller, leave the door chain on at all times. If the company does not know the caller, dial 999 and ask for the Police, who will tell you what to do.Put your safety first
Sometimes bogus callers pose as someone needing help – perhaps a glass of water or access to a telephone. Put yourself first. Do not feel you are rude or uncaring by saying ‘no’ – your own safety is more important.Remember‚ it is your home
If you are unsure‚ do not open the door and do not let the caller in. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Rogue traders Some cold callers will offer to do roofing‚ building or driveway resurfacing. Some will vastly overcharge for unnecessary‚ shoddy or non-existent work. Do not agree to any cold caller doing any work for you.Never accept an offer to drive you to withdraw moneyThere have been instances where older people have been driven to their bank or building society to withdraw money to pay the cold caller’s charges.Do not accept an offer to be driven from anyone you do not know or do not trust. If you are pressurised to hand over money‚ keep your door closed‚ dial 999 and ask for the police.Need some work done?If you think you may need to have work done on your house or driveway‚ ask for quotes from two or three reputable companies. Friends and relatives may be able to recommend companies or tradespeople they have been pleased with.Your local Age UK group may also be able to provide lists of companies and tradespeople to help you. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Your passwords If you print out this page, write the contact details and passwords for your electricity‚ gas and water companies below.
My water supplier:
Contact number:
Doorstep password:
My gas supplier:
Contact number:
Doorstep password:
My electricity supplier:
Contact number:
Doorstep password: Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar
Crime prevention Here are some simple precautions to protect yourself inside and outside your home, covering how to secure your home, safety outside your home, scams, identity theft and what to do if you are affected by crime.For more detailed information on personal security at home or out and about download our guide Staying safe from the box on the right. Another guide, Avoiding scams, explains how to protect yourself from bogus callers, pyramid schemes, internet scams and more. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Security in the home Most burglars are opportunists and they will look for unlocked doors or opened windows to get in. You can reduce the risk of burglary and make yourself feel safer by taking these steps:· Always lock outside doors and close the windows when you go out, even if only for a short time · Draw the curtains in the evening · Don’t give keys to people you do not know well, such as workmen · Change the locks if you think somebody else might have another copy of your keys · Do not leave keys in obvious places such as under a flower pot or doormat or hanging inside the letterbox · Look through the ‘spy hole’ and put the door chain on before you open the door · Only take the chain off and admit the caller if you are sure about their identity and purpose of their visit · Do not keep the chain on all the time; it will prevent someone with a door key entering - for example a home help or the emergency services · Keep your garden tools and ladders locked away · If you think you have been broken into, do not go inside as the burglar might still be inside - call the police.For more advice on preventing burglaries, see our page of burglary prevention advice from the Metropolitan Police.Keeping your doors and windows secureContact your local police station and ask to speak to a Crime Prevention Officer for advice on security.Our HandyVan scheme is a country wide scheme to provide and fit locks and spy holes etc free of charge. Burglar alarmsVisible burglar alarms will deter opportunist burglars and increase the security of your home. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Safety outside the home Out walking Attacks on people by strangers in public places are rare and violent crime accounts for a small part of all recorded crime.You can reduce the risk of attack further:· Stick to well-lit, busy roads, avoid underpasses; if you can, avoid walking alone, especially in an unfamiliar area · Walk facing oncoming traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed · Buy a personal attack alarm and carry it in your hand while you are out walking at night · Carry a mobile telephone · Keep your bag close to you and don’t keep everything in it; for example put your keys in trousers/skirt pocket and mobile in your jacket pocket · Don’t carry large sums of money; cover up expensive looking jewellery · If someone tries to snatch your bag it might be best to let them have it instead of risking injuries · If you think someone is following you, check by crossing the street more than once to make sure if you are right; if you are still worried get to the nearest place where there are other people and call the policePublic transport· Wait in a busy and well-lit area · Sit near other people or close to the driver or conductor · If somebody makes you feel uncomfortable change placesTaxi· Check that the taxi that arrives is the one you ordered - if you gave your name to the company, check that the driver knows it before you get in · Sit behind the driver; if you feel uneasy ask the driver to stop in a busy place that you know of and get outDriving· Make sure you have enough petrol · Plan your route in advance and tell somebody where you are going · Park in well lit busy areas · Don’t leave anything on display, lock any items in the boot · While driving keep valuables out of sight · Do not give lifts to or accept lifts from strangers · If you break down on a motorway, follow the arrows to the nearest phone and do not cross the carriageway. Don’t wait in the car - there is a high risk of accident. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Scams Scams can take a variety of forms such as unsolicited prize draws, lotteries or windfalls, pyramid schemes, clairvoyant scams and emails and text messages linked to a premium rate telephone line. To protect yourself from scams:· Read letters, brochures, emails and text messages carefully and seek professional help if it involves a lot of money or time · Make sure you know who you are dealing with, check independent sources to verify any claims made by a sales person, investments adviser or advertisement · Make sure you understand all the terms and conditions of any offer made to you, ask for an explanation of anything you don’t understand · Don’t provide any financial or other personal details before you are sure that the company is legitimate · Deal with companies you know and trust · Don’t call premium rate telephone lines - they can cost £1.50 a minute or more and you may lose £15 for every call you make If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or if you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for advice on 08454 04 05 06 (lo-call rate) or visit the Consumer Direct website. Affinity One Security Solutions 08000 336 999 For Intruder and CCTV solutions. Beat the Burglar Identity Theft In identity theft criminals use your personal information to carry out fraud on your bank accounts or to use your name in another fraudulent way.To keep your bank account safe:· Be cautious of anyone seeking too much personal information; ask why they need them · Never disclose your PIN to anyone - your bank would not contact you to ask for your PIN, password or other security information in full · Shred or cut to little pieces anything containing personal information such as documents, cards, receipts, unwanted applications for bank accounts, credit cards or loans etc before putting them in the bin · Check your statements regularly and contact your bank immediately if you do not recognize the transactions · If you are expecting a statement, new card or cheque book by post and it does not arrive, contact your bank immediately · Keep your passwords and PIN numbers safe, don’t write them down · Avoid using your mother’s maiden name as a security password - it can be easily discovered · Don’t use the same password for more than one account · Be careful when you use your cards and don’t let anyone see your PIN number · If you move house contact your bank and all other organisations to give them the new address (the Post Office can redirect post on request) · Use a computer that you know is secure - which means one with up to date antivirus software, and firewall installed; be wary of making a transaction using internet cafes or public computersFor more information see the Home Office's identity theft website.e: Metropolitan Police, November 2009. 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Home Security: Burglary Prevention Burglary Prevention | Bogus Callers | Doors | Flats and Apartments
Glazing | Lighting | Security Alarms | Windows Remember, always lock before you leaveLast year, 5,199 people were burgled because they didn't lock their front door. It's easy to leave your front door unlocked, especially when you're in a hurry or distracted. But even if you only do it once, that could be enough to get burgled. Most burglars are opportunistic - they look for an easy way to get in that won't take long or arouse suspicion, so many try the front door first. How does a burglar's mind work?Burglary, on the whole, is an opportunist crime. A burglar will select his target because it offers him the best opportunity to carry out his crime undetected and with the fewest number of obstacles in his way. A building that presents itself as unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secured: - Side gates open
- Accessible windows open
- Ladders left out, allowing access to otherwise inaccessible windows
- Garden tools available to force entry
- Untrimmed hedges or high fences preventing natural surveillance
Each of these makes access to the building far simpler and is an indication to the prospective burglar that it's worth a second look. Residents of multi occupancy dwellings or flats should be mindful not to grant entry to people via an entry phone system, if they do not know them, and to be cautious of people seeking to 'tailgate' them into buildings. The question is, are the occupants in?- Milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep
- Newspapers and mail in the letter box
- Unlit houses after dark
- All windows shut in very hot weather
These are signs telling the burglar that he is unlikely to be disturbed in the course of his work. Naturally, circumstances may arise when such situations may be unavoidable. If we can take measures that tell the burglar that this building is too difficult or too risky a target, he will hopefully move on. To a burglar, a stuffed letter box is a dead giveaway when you’re not at home. Ask a neighbour to remove your post while you are away. Are you leaving a thief the key to your house?- Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door - burglars know all the hiding places
- Prevent letterbox burglaries by storing keys away from the front door
- Do not label your house keys in case you lose them and they fall into the wrong hands.
Remove temptation- Where possible, try to keep valuables out of sight from windows.
 Make it look as though your house is occupied- Install timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically.
- Have a neighbour or friend pop round to clear your letter box or doorstep.
- Encourage a neighbour to park on your drive.
- If going out after dark, draw the curtains, leave some lights on and a radio playing.
To a burglar, a dark doorway is an opportunity to hide. Fit a security light over your front door to deter burglars. If you are away for extended periods.- Cancel the delivery of milk and newspapers
- Disconnect the telephone answering machine, or re-word your greeting message to give the impression that you are only temporarily unable to answer.
- Enlist the help of a neighbour, friend or relative to keep a regular eye on your property and keep the front door clear of deliveries.
- If you are prepared to leave a key with a willing neighbour/relative, ask for curtains to be drawn and lights to be put on at night. If snow is on the ground a few footprints will make the house appear inhabited.
- Check your insurance policy. Some insurance policies for contents don't cover you if you are away for more than 30 days.
- Set your burglar alarm.
- If you do not have an alarm, consider investing a few pounds in a dummy alarm box. It may well deter the opportunist thief.
Remember: Remove the Opportunity - Prevent the Burglary To a burglar, a dark house is an empty house. Attaching a timer to a lamp will make your home appear occupied even when it isn’t. |
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