Police urge people to protect their homes as lighter nights set in

With the onset of lighter nights and warmer weather there is historically a rise in offences where burglars sneak in through open doors and windows.

Detective Chief Inspector, Jamie Pitt, said: “It’s important residents take steps to help prevent themselves from becoming a victim of burglary.

“With the onset of lighter nights thieves will be looking to take advantage of the fact more people are spending time outdoors and may leave doors and windows open as the weather starts to warm up.

“But this does present an open invitation to thieves. It can only take a second for a thief to come through an open window or door which will be all the more attractive to them if small, easily taken items are left on show, such as a laptop, jewellery or keys left on a bench or window sill.

“Sometimes the costs can run even higher if car keys are stolen with thieves making off in the vehicle. By taking a few minutes to make sure property is secure it can save a lot of anger and frustration.”

Residents are urged to take simple steps such as locking doors, even when in another part of the house or garden, and investing in a timer switch for later in the night when it gets dark. Security measures such as CCTV, security lights and an alarm also deter thieves.

Police are also encouraging people to register valuable items on the national property register database Immobilise.

The site is free to use and means any items recovered by police can be checked on the site, the owner identified and the property returned to them. It also helps police arrest those responsible for these thefts.

Residents are also urged to continue to report suspicious activity to police.

People can contact police on 101, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, to report a crime ongoing dial 999.