Newham police warn that four out of five burglaries occur when a house or flat is unoccupied, so don’t advertise that you’re away on holiday.
Their advice is:
*Make sure your home looks occupied. Closed curtains in the daytime make it look as if no one is at home.
*Cancel deliveries of milk, newspapers etc discreetly – don’t announce your departure to a shop full of people. Only tell people who need to know you’re going away.
*Use automatic timer switches on radios as well as lights. Dusk-to-dawn low-energy bulbs could also be used around the house, both internally and externally.
*Don’t leave valuable items like televisions, videos or the hi-fi visible through windows.
*Ensure garages and sheds are secured preferably locked or padlocked.
*Ensure doors and windows are locked and if you have a burglar alarm ensure it is set.
*Ask a relative, friend or neighbour to check that all post and free papers are fully pushed through the letterbox, the front lawn is cut and the rubbish bin is not left out.
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