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Latest news from Suffolk Constabulary
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Police advice on a variety of subjects can be accessed via https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice
To report something, or to otherwise contact Police, use the link http://www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us
To report something anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Alternatively call 101 for non-urgent matters.
Always call 999 in emergencies, or if an immediate police response is required.
Police Connect Team
Tips to secure your outbuildings:
• Avoid storing valuable items like power tools and sporting equipment like fishing rods and golf clubs in your shed. These should be kept inside your home or in a secure garage.
• Chain items such as bicycles, ladders and lawnmowers to a strong anchor point or to each other using a closed shackle padlock.
• Register your property at www.immobolise.com which is a free web-based property registration service.
• Remember to lock your shed or garage after use.
• Secure shed doors by fitting a strong hasp and staple (or ‘padbad'). Secure this with coach bolts and lock the hasp over the staple with a closed shackle padlock.
• Secure shed door hinges with coach bolts of non-returnable screws (screws which can only be screwed in and not back out again).
• Replace any rotten door or window frames.
• Fit a good quality battery-operated alarm to your outbuilding.
For further crime reduction advice please visit https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/crime-prevention-z.
As the days become longer and warmer with the promise of summer, Suffolk Police are reminding residents to protect their homes against opportunistic thieves.
Warmer weather can bring with it offenders on the look-out for lapses in security, such as open doors and windows, particularly when valuables are left on display.
"Thieves typically look for the easy option by looking for gaps in security and are often not afraid to try door locks. I would urge residents to look at their home security through a thief's eye to prevent them from becoming an easy target. For instance, if you can pull your front door handle down from the inside, so can a burglar.”
"Garage and outbuilding break-ins are also common at this time of year as burglars look for power tools, bikes and other expensive items. Thieves will also look for utensils to help them break into homes so make sure you use good quality locks and keep garden gates locked.
"I would also encourage people to keep an eye on their neighbours' homes, particularly when you know they are on holiday. Setting up or joining a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is an excellent way to work together in preventing your area from being targeted.
"Being the victim of a burglary can have both an emotional and financial impact, however protecting your home doesn't have to be expensive.”
LOCK
• Lock all doors and remove the keys before leaving the house.
• Keep front doors locked even when you are at home and especially if you are in the back garden.
• Close all windows fully before you leave the house, lock downstairs windows and remove the keys.
• Use window limiters to allow air in instead of keeping windows fully open, even when you're at home.
• Install window locks on upstairs windows that can be easily accessed by a flat roof.
• Lock back gates using a sturdy lock such as a closed shackle padlock to no less than CEN 3-4 security grade or 5 lever lock.
LIGHT
• Make your home look lived in - use timer switches if you're not home.
• ‘Dusk-to-dawn' sensored security lighting is a cheap, low cost way of making sure the front of your home or shed/outbuilding is well-lit.
• Visible burglar alarms can make burglars think twice; get specialist advice and consult your insurance company.
• Hedging and shrubs to the front of your property should be pruned to no higher than 1m and trim trees up from the ground to 2m. This will allow a clear line of sight across your property and will stop the garden being used as a hiding place.
HIDE
• Keep your valuables, jewellery, cash, passport and deeds to your property in a safe.
• Never leave spare keys in an open place. Be aware, burglars know all the usual hiding places so never leave a spare key under the doormat or under a garden gnome.
• Keep dustbins and wheelie-bins away from fencing/gates as these can be used by thieves to climb into windows or used to escape.
• Make sure valuables are property marked. Take photographs and keep a note of any serial numbers.
• Don't leave equipment and tools lying around that can be used by burglars to break into your home, such as hammers, shovels or gardening tools. Keep ladders locked away and out of sight.
For more security advice visit https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/crime-prevention-z.
Keep in touch with Police Direct
Police Direct is a high tech messaging service provided by Suffolk Constabulary, which is designed to bring you up to date information about crime and policing issues in your area.
The service can send you information by email to your computer, by text to your mobile phone, or by leaving a message on your landline.
The service will give you a range of information relating to policing, which includes the following:
- Latest information on local crime
- Warnings about bogus callers
- Crime reduction advice
- Updates from your Safer Neighbourhood Team
It's free to join Police Direct and you choose how you want to receive the alerts, via email, text or phone or any combination of these.
More information and to register