Senior Telford Officer Issues Security Reminder

Ahead of the launch of West Mercia Police's Summer Home Security campaign, which offers advice on how people can keep their homes ‘Safe and Secure', Detective Inspector Pete Brophy has reminded residents of Telford of the importance of not leaving their homes vulnerable to burglars when they go out or go away on holiday.

Although police regularly issue warnings to local people about the need to keep windows and doors shut - and ideally locked - when they leave their homes, many burglaries still  appear to have happened simply because people have left their homes insecure.

Speaking about his continued concerns, DI Brophy explained: "Although burglaries do remain rare in Telford and Wrekin, up to half of all burglaries are committed by thieves who enter the house through an unlocked door or an open window.

DI Pete Brophy is reminding people in Telford to secure their homes."This means the reality is that most burglaries are carried out by opportunistic thieves, rather than ‘professional' criminals, who are looking for the easiest way of getting into a house without being seen or disturbed. Opportunist thieves will not want to take unnecessary risks to carry out a burglary and therefore there are simple things that everyone can do to make life more difficult for them.

"For example, don't leave doors or accessible windows open or unlocked in unoccupied rooms even if you are only outside for a very short time. If you are in the garden and leave the front door open: it would only take a matter of seconds for an opportunist thief to walk in and steal items from your home. Remember to lock up properly before you go to bed and only leave windows open in the rooms where people are sleeping."

If you're going away -whether overnight or on a longer holiday - you should also ask yourself, does your home look lived in? Take the following simple steps to make sure your property is less vulnerable to burglars and you can enjoy your time away with peace of mind:

• Let a neighbour or friend know that you're going away.
• Arrange for them to check on your house - collect mail, open / close curtains. 
• Use timer switches/sensors to turn lights on in the evenings while you are out
• Invest in external lighting
• Mark your belongings with your postcode and house number.
• If you have an alarm, set it when you leave the house.
• Remember to cancel your milk and newspapers
• Encourage a neighbour to park on your drive.

DI Brophy coninued: "I would ask each and every person in the Borough to spend a little time considering how they can make their home more secure.

"It will only take a few minutes to think this through but could make an enormous difference in terms of reducing your chances of becoming a victim of an opportunist thief."

For more information about home and garden security, visit the force website http://www.westmercia.police.uk/

Issued: 21 June 2011