Christmas Crime Prevention Advice

As we are getting very near to Christmas and many of us are out and about shopping and attending Christmas parties please find below some basic seasonal advice to help you to have a crime free and enjoyable festive season.

Kind Regards

Home Watch Desk


Out & About – Shopping for Gifts
Although Christmas is a happy time for many of us, be mindful that criminals also enjoy the opportunities that the festive season can often present to them. Please be mindful of this advice over the festive period:

Whilst out shopping for Christmas and during the January sales, consider carefully where you are parking with regards to lighting and security. Is the area well lit and would you feel safe returning to your vehicle alone in the dark if it is in a quiet area? Is there any CCTV coverage in the area to offer extra protection? Wherever possible, try not to return to your vehicle mid trip to leave presents in your boot and if you need to be mindful of anyone suspicious who may be loitering or watching you place the presents in your boot. A boot full of presents or sale items would make a nice gift for an opportunist thief.

New Gadgets
For those of us who receive new gadgets such as satellite navigation systems, new phones and Bluetooth able items such as laptops take extra care when trying out your new toys! Ensure that you wipe away the sucker ring from the windscreen after using your Satellite Navigation System as this signals to a would be thief that there has been a system in the vehicle. Remember to switch of your Bluetooth when not in use as even if laptops and phones are locked in the boot where you believe them to be secure, criminals can use Bluetooth to indicate to them there is a Bluetooth device in their vicinity.

At Home
Although it is a fair bet that most households will have Christmas presents within them, try not to advertise the position of your gifts. A Christmas Tree with presents under it is a festive sight, however it may also offer an incentive for passers by on the look out for easily accessible presents to steal, so try not to leave presents in places where they are easy to view from the window.

Once you have opened your gifts make a note of any serial numbers and store in a safe place and also property mark your items in case of future thefts. It is always worth taking a photograph (alongside a ruler to give an idea of size) and recording a description and approximate value of any precious items as a precaution both for identification and insurance purposes if stolen.

Keep any empty boxes from Christmas presents out of your bin until recycling day. Wherever possible, break the boxes up and secure them together. Boxes and wrapping can provide burglars with ideal information about what new items have come into the property over Christmas.

If you are attending Christmas & New Year parties ensure that you make your house looked occupied whilst out by leaving lights on. If you are out on several regular occasions try to vary the lights you leave on so there is not an obvious pattern when you absent from your property. Consider investing in a timer switch from a DIY store so that some lights will come on automatically if you are back after dark.

Personal Safety
Whilst out and about socialising try to remain vigilant and keep an eye on your personal possessions such as phones, handbags and wallets. Take control of your own possessions, it is often easy to leave your bag on the floor or your phone on the table presuming that someone else, such as a friend, will stay with them - wherever possible try to keep your personal possessions with you because you will definitely look after them. Don’t carry your wallet around in your rear trouser pocket where it easily accessible for someone to dip into your pocket unnoticed whilst in a busy environment.

Always make someone aware of where you are intending to go on your night out and when you plan to return. Plan how you are getting to and home from your venue before you go so you know you have a safe way to get home. If using a taxi firm always pre-book the firm and don't be tempted to hop into any taxi's that are touting for trade. Always ensure that someone else knows what taxi firm you have booked with and that they have a contact number for them.