Burglary
Prevention Tips
Keep your home from being an easy target
Protect your home by discouraging intruders from making it their next
target.
Burglars are less likely to victimise a house that looks occupied or protected
by a security system. When you're on holiday
or away from home
- Put lights, stereo or TV on a timer to give the
appearance that someone is home. Make sure the ligts come on a different
itmes of the evening.
- Secure sliding glass doors with pins to prevent
both horizontal and vertical movement.
- Have a neighbour pick up your bin liners, newspapers
etc. You don't want mail hanging out of your letter box for days as
this will indicate you are not at home.
- Ask a neighbour to park their car in your driveway
to give your home the appearance that someone is there.
- Lock doors and windows when you're home alone.
- Look through your peephole viewer to see who's
there before opening the door.
- Always request identification from salespeople
or repair persons before you let them in your home.
- List only your first initial and last name in the
phone book.
- Fix broken locks or windows and install deadbolts
on doors leading outside.
- Replace all locks immediately after moving into
a new home.
- Store high-value items such as jewellery safely.
- Keep important papers, valuable jewellery and large
amounts of cash in a safe deposit box.
- Engrave your valuables & postcode your electricial
equipment. It is also a good idea to photograph your valuable items.
- Keep gift-wrapped packages hidden from outside
view.
- When you purchase new electronic equipment, do
not "advertise it". Break down cartons before discarding.
- If going on holiday do not advertise the labels
on your bagaage as they contain your name and address. This shows you
are away from home.
- Always hang your keys from outside view. Keep them
out of sight and don't leave keys in the locks.
- Thinks about having a security post fitted in your
drive. Homes are sometimes burgled just for the vehicle on the driveway.
(Keep your car keys safe and out of view when at home.
- Make sure outside doors have good security (5 leaver
mortice locks) with strong wooden panels fitted.
- If you have double glazing fitted (UPVC) with outside
beading, make sure this is secure so the glass cannot be removed.
- A thorn bush in gardens is always a obstacle for
entry. Keep front and trees at a low level as they they are easy to
hide behind.
- A security lights are always a deterrent. Offenders
do not like to work in bright conditions.
-
Have a security check list by your front door to run throught when you are going out
Garden tools and sheds
Some valuable tips for their security
- Reinforce the doors and frames of outbuildings
and sheds, especially the areas where locks are attached.
- Use a good quality padlock; one with shoulders
that protect the bolt from being cut.
- If you can do without the window put a permanent
cover on it. If not, hang something on the inside of the window so the
contents of the shed cannot be seen.
- Make sure the hasp and staple is fitted securely,
using coach bolts or security screws. Do not leave screw heads showing
or gaps so the fitting can be levered off.
- Most hardware stores stock battery-operated alarms
suitable for sheds. You can secure valuable items to the base of the
shed with stout chains. To avoid garden tools being used to force entry
to the shed, or worse still, to the house, secure them.
- Think about glueing the hinges on shed doors if coach bolts have not been used
ask yourself these
questions click here
Skimming
The crackdown has begun
A Skimming Crackdown initiative has been launched by the UK banking industry, police and Crimestoppers to fight back against counterfeit card criminals that cost the UK over £125million every year. Skimming is a type of counterfeit fraud. It happens when someone copies the magnetic stripe on a credit or debit card by swiping it through a small card reader. These details are used to make counterfeit cards. Skimming is often linked with other organized crime like drug trafficking. Because of this, UK police have joined forces to track where it is happening and make arrests. You can play your part by anonymously telling Crimestoppers (number below) if you know anybody who is involved in skimming - for example, maybe you know someone who is supplying the small card readers and asking staff to do the skimming for them. You will be in line for a Card Watch reward of at least £500 for information that leads to a conviction.
Help spot fake cards and win £500
Additionally, retailers who are vigilant in following checking procedures
and following their instincts when it comes to spotting and stopping card
criminals could be in with a chance of winning one of ten £500 prizes.
Describe in 120 words or less how you thwarted a counterfeit card criminal
and what it was about the card that told you it was a fake. Send your
response with your name, place of work, work address and phone number
to Sarah Sinden at either APACS, Mercury House, Triton Court, 14 Finsbury
Square, London, EC2A 1LQ or fax 020 7628 0927 or look at the website cardwatch@apacs.org.uk
for help. There you will see details of the 'Lovely Bubbly Competition'
as well. With thanks to APACS, the Association for Payment Clearing Services.
ask yourself these
questions click here
If you know of any good security tips,
please email me at the below address and I will place them on this page.