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Crime Prevention Articles
On this page you will find information that will help you to not become a victim of crime. Please refer to these.
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Although the reality of becoming a victim of burglary in the county is low, with only one person in every hundred being burgled in a year, there are some simple measures that can help stop the would-be intruder from choosing your home.
Most people think of a burglar with a stripy jumper, a crow bar and a swag bag. But the truth is that a would-be intruder looks like any person in the street, and does not usually have a disguise, carry or wear specific clothes.
Most burglars do not plan their break-ins, but seize any opportunities they can. In general, they do not want to be confronted so they seek out homes, which are unoccupied.
Most advice is common sense – take time to look at your home as if you are a potential burglar, note any trouble spots and take action.
Get the lived in look
When you go out, make your home look occupied: -
- Park a car in your drive.
- Leave a radio or television on.
- Leave a light on when it is dark.
Lock up to keep crime down
A third of all burglars break in to houses through unlocked doors and windows, so lock them securely to keep the intruders out: -
- Always lock doors and windows even if you go out for a short time.
- Leave any keys well away from doors and windows, put them out of sight.
- Don’t use outside hidey-holes such as under flowerpots or doormats where keys can be found easily.
- If you are at the back of the house working or at a bar-b-que, make sure the front of the house is secure
Door security
Make sure that you have a sound, secure door, which is fitted with good locks, appropriate to the type of door.
- On your front door, which is usually the final exit door; fit an automa
 tic deadlocking rim lock.
- A good quality door chain and viewer should be fitted to your front door.
- On back doors, fit a mortice lock, with a pair of mortice bolts.
- Glass patio doors should have a deadlocking multi-point system fitted.Consider fitting a letterbox cage to prevent access.
- Make sure that the doors and frames are strong and in good condition.
- Think about a door entry scheme.
Lighting
Lighting, inside and outside a home, can help to deter a thief when it is dark: -
- Lighting should be placed to cover external doors and vulnerable areas, including gardens and sheds.
- Use timers to switch on internal lights if you return home late at night.
- When you go out, leave a light on in rooms that are usually occupied to give the impression that someone is in the house.
Out of sight
Opportunist burglars will be attracted by valuables, so keep them safe:-
- Make sure that expensive items e.g. stereo, CD player etc are not easily visible.
- Keep special property such as sentimental or expensive jewellery well out of the way by either wearing it or keeping it in a well-hidden place ideally under lock and key.
- Try not to keep important or very valuable property at home.Keep cash or credit cards with you or in a safe place at home.
Consider an alarm
Visible burglar alarms may make burglars think twice
- If you can afford it, have an alarm professionally installed and make sure that you get a number of estimates before making your final choice.
- Make sure that the alarm installation complies with the BS4737 or BS 6707
Postcode your property
Marking your property can deter burglars. And if it is ever lost or stolen, it will be easier to identify and you will stand a much better chance of getting it back:-
- Property can be marker in a number of ways
- Take specialist advice before marking expensive or irreplaceable items.
- Photograph valuable and smaller items on a plain back ground and use a ruler to show the size of small objects.
- Use your postcode followed by your house number.
- Publicise the fact that your property is marked.
- Keep a list of all valuable items in a safe place.
Reduce the risk of burglary happening to you by making sure you’ve taken these simple precautions. For a relatively small outlay you could make your home more secure and buy peace of mind into the bargain.
For further advice please contact the Crime Prevention Officer Mark Montgomery on 01438 757643
or
Send email to Crime Prevention Officer
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Coded For Keeps
Marking your new property can deter burglars and help police to get your property back to you if it is stolen.
HOW SAFE ARE YOUR POSSESSIONS?
Do you own things of sentimental value, which would be impossible to replace? Or things which could be replaced but at a cost?
Your possessions may mean a lot to you but to a thief they are just another way of making easy cash. Of course the best thing to do is to protect your home against the thief. But if someone did break in and steal things, could you describe them fully and accurately to the police? It’s not as easy as it sounds when all you have to rely on is your memory.
Every year, property worth hundreds of thousands of pounds is recovered by the police and not returned to it’s rightful owners, simply because it can’t be properly identified.
Property marking deters thieves. They find identifiable property dangerous to handle and difficult to dispose of. It also helps the police to return your property if it is found.
POSTCODE YOUR PROPERTY
Your postcode, plus your house or flat number (or the first two letters of your house name) provides a simple and unique way of identifying your property. If you don’t know your postcode, ask at your local post office.
HOW TO MARK YOUR PROPERTY
There are several ways to mark your property, depending on the type of object you want to mark. The alternatives are: -
Engraving or etching
Engraving or etching is suitable for many hard surfaces and can be done using an electric engraving tool or a hand engraver. His method leaves a visible and permanent mark
Ultra Violet or Invisible marking
An ultra-violet (UV) pen can put an invisible mark on your property, which can only be seen by using an UV lamp. Only use UV marking when other methods would reduce the value of the object. Remember that the mark can fade in time, especially when exposed to sunlight, and can be washed off so it needs renewing regularly.
Ceramic Marking
Ceramic marking pens have been developed to mark china, glass or any glazed surface. They do not cut or scratch the surface but leave a permanent mark.
Punching
You can mark heavier metal items such as lawn mowers with a hammer and a set of punches.
Where you mark your property is important – particularly if you are using the engraving method. If you want the mark to be out of sight, choose somewhere behind or underneath the article – but not somewhere so hidden that the police would not be able to find it.
Try to mark a surface that cannot be removed without spoiling the appearance or performance of the article. You can get easy-to-use property marking kits from stationers and DIY stores.
KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR PROPERTY
Finally you can still protect items that can’t be marked by keeping a record of them. A simple and effective way of doing this is to photograph each item, preferably in colour, paying special attention to any distinguishing marks such as initials or crests, which may be used to identify the item. Take the photograph against a plain background and include a ruler to give an idea of size.
Remember, “a picture paints a thousand words”
Advertising the fact that your property has been marked may warn off thieves. You can do this by displaying a “Coded for keeps” sticker anywhere a burglar might get in, for example on the doors and windows of your home.
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Peace Of Mind While You’re Away
Everyone needs a holiday some time, and however much you like your home, there’s nothing like a change of surroundings.
But you want to come home and find everything as you left it. Four out of five burglaries occur when a house or flat is empty; so don’t advertise that you’re away on holiday.
Plan Ahead
Use the checklist to help you keep your home secure. Read it and plan ahead, then tick off the items just before you go.
Help from your neighbours
It’s also a good idea to get help from your neighbours. All you have to do is ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on you home while away.
You could ask them to collect post left in the letterbox, sweep up leaves, even mow the lawn and generally make the place look lived in. You can repay the favour by doing the same for them. Warn your key holding neighbour not to put your surname address or even your house number on your keys in case they fall into the wrong hands.
Is there a neighbourhood watch scheme where you live? It could help you keep your home secure while you’re away, and has many other Crime Prevention and community benefits.
Holiday Checklist
Cut the lawn before you go. Arrange for pets to be properly looked after. Leave small valuable items, like jewellery, on deposit at the bank or consider installing a small floor safe. Don’t lock internal doors or desks – they may be forced if someone does break in. Mark any valuable items with your postcode followed by your house number. If they are stolen and later found it would help with the identification. Cancel deliveries of milk, newspapers etc, discreetly – don’t announce your departure to a shop full of people. Only tell people who need to know you’re going away. Make sure your house looks occupied. A closed curtain in the daytime makes it look as if no one is at home. It is worthwhile to get automatic time – switches to switch lights – and a radio – on and off in downstairs rooms. Don’t leave valuable items like TV’s video’s or hi-fi visible through windows. Lock your garage and shed with proper security locks, after putting all your tools safely away so they cannot be used to break into your house. Don’t have your home address showing on your luggage for the outward journey. Finally lock all outside doors and windows. If you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set – and that you have told the police who the key-holder is.
And just before you actually set off, it’s worth allowing a quiet couple of minutes on the doorstep to check you’ve done all you had to do and taken everything you need with you.
Have a safe journey, a great holiday and return home not a victim of crime.
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Putting The Brakes On Car Crime
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Hertfordshire has the third highest level of car ownership in the country, and the county’s roads are some of the busiest roads nationwide, being used by thousands of cars every day.
Unfortunately one third of all reported crime in the county relates to stolen vehicles and the theft of property from them – with nine out of ten vehicles involved being cars.
Most thieves do not plan their break-ins, but seize any opportunities they can, particularly when they see a car as an easy target.
Having your car stolen is a distressing experience. You and your family may be stranded far from home and with little money.
But of all crimes, car crime is probably the most preventable. Good security acts as a deterrent, slowing a thief down and forcing the use of tools that are hard to conceal.
If you are leaving valuables in the boot, you might never see them again.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE, TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO THINK: -
- Have you parked in the safest place possible?
- Have you left anything valuable on show?
- Where’s your mobile phone? Your handbag? Your laptop computer?
- Are you going to put them in the boot?
- Are you going to leave tools in your van overnight?
Someone might be watching you.
- Police in Hertfordshire received over 200 reports of laptop computers being stolen from car boots in 1999.
- Businesses collapse and livelihoods are ruined every year when expensive tools and equipment are stolen from vehicles.
- Vehicle crime raises your insurance premiums as well as your blood pressure.
DON’T TAKE THE RISK TAKE YOUR VALUABLES WITH YOU.
OPERATION STOPWATCH
IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE TO STOP VEHICLE CRIME.
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Keeping Your Bike Yours
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Hertfordshire has long been recognised as a safe place with some of the lowest crime levels in the country.
Despite this more than 1000 bicycles are reported stolen every year and, of the eight per cent that are recovered, most are auctioned simply because there’s no way of knowing who the owners are.
And each year, an average of 360 accidents involving bicycles are reported to Hertfordshire Constabulary with more than a sixth of these resulting in someone – usually the cyclist being seriously injured.
There are some very simple things you can do to deter opportunist thieves from stealing your bike.
- Mark the frame of your bike with your postcode. You can have this done free of charge at most Police Stations around the county.
- When you get your bike marked you will be given a coded cycle sticker to display on the frame of your bike to show it has been security marked. Thieves are put off if they know a bike is post coded.
- Never leave your bike unlocked – even if you’re just popping into the newsagents.
- The best kind of lock is a quality solid steel D shaped shackle lock. You can buy these at any bike shop. Look out for locks with their own compensation insurance scheme.
- Always lock your bike to something solid like a lamppost or railings, preferably in a public area.
- If you have quick release wheels, take off the front wheel and lock it to the frame and back wheel.
- If you have a pump or detachable lights take them with you when you leave your bike.
- Make sure you have adequate insurance cover for your bike.
As a cyclist you are more vulnerable than other road users, but by taking some simple precautions you can reduce the risk of accidents or injury.
- Helmets should always be worn, even on short journeys.
- You should only buy a helmet if it carries a CE mark and one of the normal safety standards eg BS683:1989, AS2063, ANS1.Z.90.4SNELLB90 0r B95.
- Always try the helmet on before you buy it
- If you want to improve your cycling skills, you can take part in one of the cyclist training courses available to young people and adults.
- Look after your bike, check moving parts regularly and give special attention to tyres, brakes and lights.
- Have your bike serviced regularly
- It is against the law to cycle at night without front and rear lights and a red reflector. Keep these clean and check batteries frequently.
- You should always wear reflective bands both day and night to increase visibility.
- If your bike has a bell, use it but don’t assume everyone can hear you. Still exercise caution when using shared cycle paths.
- Wherever possible use cycle lanes. Take care and remember that these are often shared with horse riders and pedestrians.
- If you have to cycle on the road, try to use side streets to avoid very busy roads.
- Take care at junctions and roundabouts and use clear hand signals.
- Always double check it is safe before joining a main road.
- Cycle in single file on busy or narrow roads.
- Remember it is against the law to cycle on pavements (unless shared) or through red lights and down one-way streets the wrong way.
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Watch out for your e-mail admirer
For some the Internet can be a chillingly efficient way to be a silent menace.
The anonymity of computer communication provides the perfect cover for those wanting to harass others “they could be anyone”
Being stalked by e-mail is a real invasion of your privacy. It’s a situation that can make people feel powerless.
People using e-mail to send and receive messages can disguise their addresses or use other people’s computer to protect their identity further. They can also use computers at cyber café’s and that may make them appear legitimate.
We should always be very careful who we give our personal information to and it is sometimes difficult to detect who the e-mail message has come from, especially if it has come from outside the United Kingdom.
Unwanted messages via e-mail are nothing more than harassment and as such are an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Everyone wants to feel safe whilst using their computer and does not want to attract unwanted messages or attention.
Some tips for safer surfing
- Never give out personal information, that is either your home or work address and telephone number – to somebody you meet on line.
- Try and choose a screen name that appears genderless.
- Never give anyone you’ve contacted on line. If you must met them then ensure that it is in a public place and take a friend along.
- If you are unsure about somebody’s behaviour in a chat area, ask others in that chat group if they can vouch for the honesty of that person.
Remember, if you find yourself in an on line situation that has become hostile, log off or surf elsewhere.
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Parent’s guide to drugs and solvents.
When it comes to the subject of drugs some parents can feel out of their depth and that is understandable. There is a lot of confusing and inaccurate information around, not helped by some highly-charged and emotive stories.
Schools increasingly are providing drugs education but you can help your children as well by being better informed. Then if the subject of drugs is raised in your family, you will be better prepared to understand and deal with it.
All children can be tempted to take drugs, no matter where they come from, what school they go to, or how bright they are.
What can be said with certainty is that all drugs are are potentially dangerous in one way or another.
Taking drugs can involve risks. Most have side effects that users often ignore or don’t know about. Mixing drugs is particularly dangerous.
With all the inherent dangers you might well wonder why anyone would be tempted to take drugs in the first place. There is no easy answer to that, children and young people may take drugs for a number of reasons:
- Curiosity, some people just want to try any new experience
- Pressure from friends to join in
- It’s fashionable and the thing to do
- Boredom
- The “buzz” of doing something dangerous
- Parental disapproval
- An escape from problems at home or school
- A way to acquire self-esteem and confidence
- It’s there so why not try it
- Some drugs are cheap
- It’s illegal and therefore may seem exciting.
Talk to your children, it’s not easy to be always available for you children, so it’s important to talk and listen to them when you are available. If they feel that you are interested in their views and in their problems, they’ll be much more likely to confide in you.
How do you know if your child is using drugs? It is often very difficult to tell, particularly when a child first takes drugs or only takes them occasionally, signs can include:
- Sudden changes of mood from happy to alert to sullen and moody
- Unusual irritability or aggression
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of interest in hobbies, sport, school work or friends
- Bouts of drowsiness or sleepiness
- Increased evidence of telling lies or furtive behaviour
- Unexplained loss of money or belongings from the home
- Unusual smells. stains, or marks on the body or clothes, or around the house.
The national drugs help line number 0800 77 66 00 gives FREE advice about drugs, including personal advice on how to talk to your children about drugs, confidential counselling or information on anything to do with taking drugs
Local Drugsline 01438 364067
Face to Face 01438 749147
And of course if you have any information about illegal drugs you can pass that information on in confidence to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
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How to make life difficult for the criminal
How to make your personal property more secure
It makes the job of a Neighbourhood Watch much easier if individual residents take steps to make their own homes and property as secure as possible.
It is important to make sure that your home has security locks, for these will deter the opportunist thief.
Ground floor and those upper windows easily accessible at the back are favourite points of entry for the burglar. Window locks can make it extremely difficult for the thief to break in without making a lot of attention-drawing noise. Good quality security locks on external doors can stop a criminal from easily getting in and from making an easy escape. If he breaks into a home that has these he will have to climb out through a window. This obviously slows him up and increases the chances of his being seen by a neighbour or a passer-by.
Good security locks make life difficult for the criminal, so he is not likely to have much success at a home where they are fitted. Such locks are available from good hardware shops, builders’ merchants and locksmiths. Advice can be obtained about the type of lock suitable for the various sorts of doors and windows from the local police Crime Prevention Officer and from locksmiths.
Property-coding
Valuable property, especially TVs, videos, stereos, cameras, etc — often the burglar’s favourite targets should be marked with your postcode followed by the house number or the first two letters of the house name. Property can be marked by etching, die stamping, branding, engraving, identification paint or by a security marker pen, which uses invisible ink that can only be read under an ultra-violet lamp.
Cycles should also be post coded by die-stamping the bottom bracket. The police will be able to advise owners where this can be done. Cycles should also always be locked when not in use.
In the event of a theft, these coding methods and details would enable the police to identify the property as stolen, and, when recovered, return it to the rightful owners.
Photographs
otographs (preferably colour) should be taken of all valuable possessions such as antiques, paintings and jewellery. Use a plain background, and include a ruler so that the size can be indicated. Such photographs together with a full detailed description of the item should be kept in a secure place, if possible, other than the home. Jewellers may be prepared to postcode delicate items.
Garages and sheds
These should always be kept locked so that the thief cannot use your tools and ladders to help him break into your home, or a neighbour’s.
Cars and other vehicles
Always make sure that windows are shut and all doors are locked even when the vehicle is left on your own drive. And never leave any valuables in the vehicle itself
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Mobile phone theft is on the rise, but the following tip might prove useful if you are unfortunate enough to have your phone stolen.
First, check your mobile phone’s serial number by keying in the following digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Should your phone get stolen, you can give your service provider this code. They will then block your handset, so even if the thief changes the SIM card your phone will be totally useless. You probably will not get your phone back but at least the thief cannot use or sell it.
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Reproduced from NNWA News Spring 2001
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A SIMPLE GUIDE TO CHOOSING AN ALARM SYSTEM
Although the reality of becoming a victim of burglary in Hertfordshire is low, we should never be complacent. Reduce the risk of burglary happening to you by making sure you’ve taken some simple precautions and consider a burglar alarm for your property.
Intruder alarms are widely accepted as an effective deterrent for burglars, providing a useful warning and limiting theft and damage to premises. Surveys carried out in England indicate that homes are less likely to be burgled if they have an intruder alarm.
Before choosing the right alarm system, check that the physical security of your premises is up to scratch. Take all the usual security precautions like fitting mortice and window locks.
Costs of systems vary according to their level of sophistication and installation charges will reflect the type of premises you want to secure.
Here are three main types of alarm systems: -
DIY System – These are available from hardware stores and DIY superstores, but do make sure you are competent with DIY and that the system conforms to British Standard.
Bells Only System – This is the most popular system available and ranges from the very simple to the extremely sophisticated. The type of system sounds a bell or siren to attract attention and deter the potential burglar. Again this should always be installed to British Standards.
Remote Signalling – This system is monitored by a Control Centre which in turn inform the police of any activation’s and of course there is an annual monitoring charge to pay.
When you have selected the type of system to suit your pocket and premises, you need to take into consideration whether it is exactly right for everyone in the building.
People have lived, and felt secure, with keys for years so think carefully before deciding between a key operated system, a keypad or a remote keypad. Keypad systems mean that you must remember a pin number. Keypad systems have the advantage of versatility. If you want your neighbour or friend to look after house while your away on holiday a temporary holiday pin number can be programmed for that period only, reverting back to your own number on your return.
What Next.
To make sure that you are charged the right price for the job, it is essential to obtain a minimum of three quotes from reputable installers before making your choice – but remember the cheapest installation is not necessarily the best option.
Study the installation contract carefully before signing it to determine whether you will own or rent the system and what the maintenance agreement is. Check that all the equipment has a 12-month guarantee.
Using your newly installed alarm system is not difficult if everyone is properly trained. Insist on a short training session from the installer.
It is advisable to go through the operator’s handbook with the installer. If you do not understand what the installer is saying, ask him to explain it another way. Ensure that you know the terms of any future call outs, whether there is any charge.
Finally a good installer should cause no damage or mess to décor and wiring can easily be concealed.
If you require any further information regarding intruder alarms or any other crime prevention subject please contact the Crime Prevention Officer on 01438 757643
or via email to:
Crime Prevention Officer
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PROTECT YOUR PHONE
Thousands of mobile telephones are being stolen every month and young people are especially vulnerable. By taking a few simple steps you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of mobile phone theft.
By recording some basic information about your phone, you can make it more difficult for a thief to use it.
These details may be needed by the police if you report your phone stolen.
The 15 digit serial or IMEI number helps identify your phone and can be accessed by keying *#06# into most phones or by looking behind the battery of your phone. This number could help the police to trace ownership quickly.
- Always use your phone’s security lock code or PIN number.
- Security mark (in permanent form) the battery and phone with your postcode or the first two letters of your house name.
- Register your phone with your telephone company, then if you report your phone stolen, the phone company should be able to bar your SIM card.
- When using your phone, remain aware of your surroundings and do not use it in crowded areas or where you feel unsafe.
- Avoid displaying your phone where it is in public view. Keep it with you at all times and do not leave it unattended.
- Remember the more fancy and cool your phone looks the more attractive it is to other people, don’t be flash with your phone.
Small information cards are available from the police station confirming this advice and allowing you the opportunity to make a permanent record of all the relevant information.
Always keep these details in a safe place separate from your phone.
Don’t become a victim of mobile phone crime.
For further information please contact the Crime Prevention Officer on 01438 757643
or via email to Crime Prevention Officer
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