Wiltshire Police have moved to reassure uneasy members of the public following a drastic rise in the amount of burglaries in Swindon.
The opening months of 2017 have seen large spikes in the number of burglaries occurring across the borough, leaving homeowners shaken and uneasy.
In January 2017, there were 224 burglaries across Swindon’s two constituencies, which is almost double the number from the previous year.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We appreciate this is a concerning time and we at Wiltshire Police are working hard to identify the offenders and hold them to account.
In the meantime we would suggest…
1. Don’t leave your keys or ID documents within easy reach of doors, letterboxes or windows.
2. Close and lock all doors and windows. Once you have locked a door, remove the key and keep this in a safe place out of sight in case of a fire.
3. Lock garages & sheds so garden tools and ladders can’t be used to break into your home.
4. Keep side gates locked and wheelie bins stored behind them.
5. If you can, use timer switches for lights and possibly a radio so that it gives the illusion
that someone’s at home.
6. Invest in a safe for valuables & sentimental items – Secure this safe to a solid surface.
7. Install a visible intruder alarm.
8. Install low level ‘dusk till dawn’ lighting to increase visibility and deter burglars.
9. Keep side & rear boundaries high to restrict access and front boundaries low to remove hiding place.
10. Photograph and mark valuables/sentimental items with your House name/number & postcode. Then register these items with serial numbers at: immobilise.com.
