Police Hold Property Marking Events In North Worcestershire

Police across North Worcestershire are encouraging people to have a safe and happy New Year by property marking their new Christmas presents if they want to hang onto them.

Although less than one per cent of homes across the West Mercia Police area are burgled each year, there is usually a slight increase in burglaries in January when thieves target valuables recently received as gifts.

Throughout the month, local policing teams are holding property marking events where they will be giving out free crime prevention advice and ultra-violet (UV) pens.

Crime Risk Advisor Peter Aston said: "Although North Worcestershire is a safe place to live and work, opportunistic thieves are active at this time of year, knowing that houses are more likely to be full of the latest gadgets after Christmas.

"Officers from local policing teams will be out and about in their communities during January encouraging residents to keep their valuables safe and secure by property marking them and registering them on Immobilise.com, the national property register.

"They will be giving out UV pens (which leave a mark only visible under UV light) and security stickers to let potential thieves know that an item has been marked.

"By doing this - in the unlikely event that your home is broken into - it will make it more difficult for thieves to sell on the items and it also helps the police return your valuables to you if your stolen belongings are recovered.

"I would like to remind everyone that you can reduce your chances of being burgled by remembering basic crime safety advice: don't leave empty present boxes on view outside your house; use timer switches to turn lights on while you are out during dark evenings and lock windows and doors and keep gates well secured."

Property marking event dates are as follows:

Bromsgrove
Wednesday January 18, at The Trunk, Humphrey Avenue, Charford, from 3pm to 5pm.
Saturday January 21, at Aston Fields Social Club, from 2pm to 4pm
Wednesday January 25,  at the SHAC in Stoke Prior, from 3pm to 6pm
Thursday January 26, at Asda, Town Centre, Bromsgrove, from 10am to 3pm

Wyre Forest
Thursday January 19, Grasmere Police Base, Kidderminster, from 11am to 2pm     
Saturday January 28, Wolverley Memorial Hall, Shatterford Lane from 9.30am to 10.30am, Cookley Social Club, Lea Lane, from 10.45am to 11.45am, Blakedown play area car park from 1pm to 2pm, and Chaddesley Corbett Village Hall, Brockencote from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

Redditch
Thursday January 26, Tesco Superstore, Oakenshaw, from 1pm to 7pm

More information on property marking can be found by visiting the ‘Advice Centre' on the force website at www.westmercia.police.uk/advicecentre/

Issued: Tuesday, 17 January 2012