With the holiday season now in full-swing, police are warning residents to secure their homes and personal property before leaving for short or long trips.
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NSW Police corporate spokesperson on Crime Prevention, detective acting superintendent Kelly Kortlepel, said holidays could provide “rich pickings” for opportunistic thieves.
“This is a message which is repeated every Christmas season but one that needs to be reinforced,” she said.
“It only takes one window to be left unlocked and your holiday-homecoming may be ruined.”
Ms Kortlepel said there were a few basic security measures every homeowner should take to protect their belongings.
o Before you leave, check - then check again - that all doors and windows are locked securely.
o Ensure a trusted neighbour is aware you are away so they can keep an eye on your home.
o If you have a house alarm, use it. It is a constant surprise to police investigating break-ins that the victim’s home was fitted with an alarm but it wasn’t activated.
o Get someone to empty your mailbox everyday - it can fill very quickly with post-Christmas sales brochures.
o Cancel newspaper deliveries and ask a neighbour to remove the free Mailbox Shopper.
o Don’t leave a key hidden outside - thieves know all the places to check for a front door key.
o Lock away all your handyman tools and garden tools: not only are these valuable items for re-sale
but they can be used to force
open windows or doors if left lying around.
o Ensure all perimeter fences are in good order and that gates are kept closed and locked to restrict access to your backyard.
o If you will be away for more
than two weeks you should
consider getting someone to mow the lawn.
o Install quality security lights around the perimeter of your home to provide more effective illumination at night. Sensor lights are a good deterrent.
o Garages should be locked: roller, tilt and panel lift doors can be secured with additional locks such as hasp and staple or padlocks.
o If you’ve arranged for someone to feed pets, don’t leave notes or cans of food behind in places where they could be found.
o Always record descriptions, models and serial numbers of your valuables to assist in easy identification should the worst happen and they are stolen.
The acting superintendent said thieves, if found, shouldn’t be approached.
“People committing these types of offences may be desperate. It’s not worth putting your life at risk for your neighbour’s laptop,” she said.
Anyone with information about break and enters should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
