We want to give people the knowledge of how to secure their homes.
- Ian Burns
A free service provided by Dubbo police is helping residents to secure their homes and make life difficult for opportunistic thieves.
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Crime Prevention Officer Senior Constable Ian Burns said Dubbo residents and business owners should make use of a police security audit.
"We want to give people the knowledge of how to secure their homes," he said.
"A few of the officer's in Dubbo can show householders how they can take a few small steps to make the difference between their house getting broken into or not.
"We also do it for businesses, schools and community organisations and there are some ways we show how to tighten up your premises."
Senior Constable Burns said the service is predominantly an external security audit, but police can provide advice on internal security measures.
"We focus on key elements like perimeter security, doors, locks, windows, sensor lights and reducing vegetation," he said.
"Those types of things are achievable without massive amounts of cost. We are realistic about it, and we show people a secure home can be achieved without it costing a lot of money.
"People should take security more seriously, it frustrates police that we go to a house that has been broken into and we find that their back door was unlocked, it doesn't matter whether you are living in Dubbo, the Gold Coast of Perth you must lock up."
Mr Burns said the use of CCTV is invaluable to police in solving crimes and that installing a camera or two is not expensive.
"We encourage people to install it because it is another tool in an investigation that we can utilise," he said.
"It can be vital to solving a crime in many instances."
Senior Constable Burns said whilst there is a focus on repeat victims, many people in Dubbo have made use of the service and more could.
"In the last year, I've done hospitals, schools and many residences in Dubbo, but it is not widely known that we offer this service," he said.
"We are happy to come out and visit people and show them how to have more secure premises; it is easy to do.
"If locals contact the Dubbo police station and ask for anyone in the Crime Management Unit they will organise a time for us to visit you and help tighten up the security of your home."
Call the Dubbo Police Station on (02) 6883 1599.