Mylander - Issue 88

25 From inside the community Essex Police With the removal of most Covid19 restrictions and as we start to spread our wings a little, please don’t get complacent with your home security. Unfortunately, there are those that will take advantage of this newfound freedom to seek opportunities to commit crime. Even if you are at home, home working or enjoying a ‘staycation’, still consider your home security—as it gets warmer, we get to see a rise in the number of “Creeper Burglaries”, where burglars take advantage of open gates, windows and doors. An open or insecure garden gate will provide the thief with access to the back of your home. Before going out or turning in for the night don’t forget to check all doors and windows, someone may have closed it, but did they lock it? A few tips for keeping your home secure: • Don’t attract a thief with insecure pedal cycles or cars or gates on display. • Keep side or rear gates, sheds and garages shut and securely locked. • Doors - Leave any accessible external door open or insecure, and an opportunist thief could pop in and anything lying around would be gone. Don’t forget that with a PVCu multi-locking door you may have lifted the handle but until you turn the key, (or on some doors a thumb turn on the inside), you have not locked all of the locking bolts in place. • Windows - If you have unoccupied rooms that are accessible to others from outside or off flat roofs make sure the windows are closed, if you need ventilation in these rooms whilst at home at least lock the larger window and only have the small window open even during the daytime. If you only have bigger opening windows, consider a lockable window restrictor and a small alarm sensor on the window to detect entry. • If you have an intruder alarm, activate it when going out and activate the zone for any unoccupied areas whilst in. • Car keys - do not take them to bed with you, where possible leave them in noisy drawer/ location. Keep the keyless car fobs in a “Faraday” bag.