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Crime
Prevention Advice for Your Home
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We have
seen a recent increase in break-ins and thefts from garages and sheds
in and around the East Grinstead area.
There are a few simple steps you can take to protect your
home.
Sheds, Garages and
Outbuildings
- Use a good quality fixings and a
padlock to secure shed and garage doors.
- To prevent a burglar from
unscrewing door hinges, use anti-tamper screws or smear hard
setting glue on the screw heads.
- If possible, lock any windows or
fit internal bars or grilles.
- Install either a mains-powered or
battery-powered shed alarm - available from DIY
stores.
Tools and
Equipment
- Use a forensic coding product to
'property mark' all valuable tools and equipment with your
postcode and/or house number. This makes items uniquely
identifiable - and less attractive to a thief.
- If possible, secure lawnmowers and
other valuable equipment to a shed or garage wall.
- Lock tools away when you aren't
using them.
- Register valuable equipment at
www.immobilise.com or photograph items and take a note of make and
model and any serial numbers. This helps with identification if
items are stolen
- If possible, fit a lockable
wire-cage for storing expensive items inside your
shed.
In the
Garden
- Lay crunchy gravel on the approach
to your house if possible. Thieves hate drawing attention to
themselves by making a noise.
- Your wheelie bin could be used as a
climbing aid or even as a means of transporting stolen property.
Secure it by padlocking it to a wall bracket or drainpipe or
position it away from the accessible windows.
- Securing the perimeter of your
garden will help to protect your property. Plant low hedges or
install low, good quality fencing - it will make a potential
burglar feel exposed and perhaps think twice.
- A good option is trellised fencing
which doesn't obstruct visibility and is difficult to climb
over.
Let Nature
Help
- Nature can help provide an
effective (and attractive) deterrent to anyone thinking of
entering your garden.
- Select your plants carefully. Holly
and hawthorn are particularly difficult to get
through.
- Protect drainpipes with anti-climb
paint or a climbing rose to deter access to windows and flat
roofs.
- Plant prickly, deciduous shrubs
next to walls or fences as an effective barrier for anyone
attempting to climb in
- If you would like to discuss any of
these ideas, please feel free to contact the team at East
Grinstead police station. In addition we have a number of free
stickers (such as 'No Cold Callers') and information
leaflets.
Compiled 7th
February 2014