Home Security Advice For Market Drayton Residents

People in Market Drayton are being given an opportunity to pick-up tips on how to reduce the risk of being burgled.

West Mercia Police is supporting a two-week crime prevention campaign being launched on Monday (Oct 22) by the Leek United Building Society at its branch in High Street.

Autumn and winter months often see an increase in burglaries and the campaign is being run to help reduce the risk of local people becoming a "darker night" crime statistic.

The police Crime Risk Advisor for Shropshire, Mr Charles Naylor will be on hand at the branch on Wednesday (Oct 24) morning from 9am to 12 noon.  He will chat to customers and callers, giving advice on keeping homes safe and secure.

He said: "I will be raising people's awareness about the risk to their homes and the importance of taking measures to protect their property.

"There will be crime prevention materials and leaflets, and I will also be promoting West Mercia's anti-burglary campaign Citadel. Citadel is an initiative which aims to reduce the number of burglaries across the force area, and includes Lighten Up, an annual promotion encouraging people to leave a light on as burglaries traditionally increase when the clocks go back".

Mr Naylor added: "Burglary is a devastating crime which has a massive impact on victims. However, many burglaries are opportunistic and could be prevented by a few common sense precautions.

"With the nights getting darker, it is well worth taking a few moments to study your home in the way a burglar would, to consider where it is vulnerable. The most important thing is to ensure doors are locked and windows closed and locked where possible so they don't make it easy for burglars.

"Ensuring lights come on at dusk and leaving a light on in an empty house at night, keeping hedges trimmed so the property can be easily seen from the road, and securing side gates to prevent access to the rear of the property are all simple and cheap precautions which can make all the difference."

Issued: Friday, 19 October 2012